US09603968B2
The disclosure describes methods of making high-strength NDGA collagen and associated methods of preparing collagen preparatory material and medical bioprostheses.
US09603966B2
Compositions containing a surface active agent and a sub-lethal amount of an antimicrobial agent and methods for using such compositions are provided herein.
US09603962B2
The present invention describes a device for evaporating a volatile liquid from a container having a wick. The device includes a housing, a motion sensor, a first electrical heating element, and at least one of: a second electrical heating element; a fan; a region of increased heating capacity within the first electrical heating element. In use, the motion sensor is operable to detect motion in the vicinity of the device and, on detecting motion, the device operates to activate at least one of a second electrical heating element; a fan; a region of increased heating capacity within the first electrical heating element. The present invention also describes a method for evaporating the volatile liquid and a kit of parts for the same.
US09603961B2
An object of this certificate of addition includes the compaction of the equipment into two modules (1 and 2) on a smaller scale so as to enable the installation of the modules directly in the air conditioning system of transportation vehicles or other means of transportation.
US09603959B2
An apparatus for sterilizing articles comprises a body extending between first and second ends having a bottom surface and defining an interior cavity into the bottom surface thereof and an ultraviolet light source located in the interior cavity. The apparatus further includes a power source operably connected to the ultraviolet light source and at least one proximity sensor disposed along the bottom surface adapted to sense proximity of the bottom surface to an object, wherein the at least one proximity sensor is adapted to permit ultraviolet light source to be illuminated only when the bottom surface is proximate to the object.
US09603956B2
A system providing effective, broad spectrum UV-C or other ionizing radiation clinical surface disinfection, high intensity UV-C light emitting diodes (LEDs) of incrementally differing wavelengths are sequentially embedded in densely packed reflective nacels (cups or pockets) forming the surface of a rotating spherical or hemispherical structure. A combination of UV-C emitter component location and activation with the rotational and reciprocal elevation functions of such structures produces complete and continuous environmental overlapping UV-C energy scattering.
US09603953B2
The disclosure relates to novel dendrimer conjugates and the methods of synthesizing the same, as well as systems and methods utilizing the dendrimer conjugates (e.g., in diagnostic and/or therapeutic settings (e.g., for the delivery of therapeutics, imaging, and/or targeting agents (e.g., in disease diagnosis and/or therapy, etc.))).
US09603942B2
The present invention relates to novel somatostatin-dopamine chimeric analogs and their therapeutic uses for the inhibition, prevention, and/or treatment of neoplasia, neuroendocrine tumors, Cushing's disease/syndrome, and other conditions.
US09603938B2
A method of making a water-soluble doxorubicin-theanine cocrystal composition. The method includes the steps of providing a quantity of doxorubicin, adding a quantity of a theanine enantiomer to the quantity of doxorubicin to form a mixture of the quantity of doxorubicin and the enantiomer of theanine, wetting the mixture, and grinding the mixture for a length of time sufficient to produce a dried crystalline mass.
US09603936B2
The invention relates to novel polyethylene glycol (PEG) based prodrug of Adrenomedullin, to processes for preparation thereof, to the use thereof for treatment and/or prevention of diseases, and to the use thereof for producing medicaments for treatment and/or prevention of diseases, especially of cardiovascular, edematous and/or inflammatory disorders.
US09603931B2
The present invention relates to a macromolecule for delivering protein, polypeptide or peptide drugs and to a production method for the same, as well as to a slow release composition for protein, polypeptide or peptide drugs comprising the same, and more specifically relates to a polylactic acid derivative compound of Chemical formula 1 of which the numerical average molecular weight is no more than 7000 daltons and to a production method for the same, as well as to a slow release composition for protein, polypeptide or peptide drugs using the same and to a production method for the same.
US09603920B2
The present application provides compositions and methods useful for treating influenza. As described herein, the compositions and methods are based on the development of peptides and peptide combinations which exhibit immunogenic properties against influenza. In some embodiments, the peptide combinations induce a protective response against multiple strains of influenza, e.g., seasonal strains of influenza or even the new pandemic influenza A (H1N1) virus of swine origin.
US09603914B2
A mutant strain of Neospora spp, in which the function of the NcMIC3 protein and/or the function of the NcMIC1 protein is suppressed, and uses thereof in a pharmaceutical composition or in a vaccine composition.
US09603910B2
The present invention concerns new compositions containing hyaluronic acid or the derivatives thereof in association with the proteolytic enzyme collagenase (and relative pharmaceutical formulations) for the preparation of a dressing for topical treatment of various kinds of wounds, burns of varying depth, pressure sores, vascular ulcers and diabetic foot ulcers as well as for the treatment of hypertrophic and keloid scars.
US09603890B2
Disclosed are compositions and methods for triggering disease selective macropinocytosis. The compositions can serve as a marker of disease activity and as a trigger of enhanced macropinocytosis in tissues undergoing disease remodeling such as wound healing, cancer, PAH, inflammation, diabetes, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, ankylosing spondylitis, diseases of the endometrium, psoriasis, irritable bowel syndrome, arthritis, fibrotic disorders, interstitial cystitis, autoimmune diseases, asthma, acute lung injury, and adult respiratory distress syndrome. The compositions can also serve as a receptor for disease selective cell penetrating peptides in the cells and extracellular matrix of diseased tissues.
US09603889B2
There are disclosed compounds that modulate the activity of inhibitors of apoptosis (IAPs), pharmaceutical compositions containing said compounds and methods of treating proliferative disorders and disorders of dysregulated apoptosis, such as cancer, utilizing the compounds of the invention.
US09603888B2
The invention relates to a composition comprising pea protein hydrolysate for the treatment and/or prevention of infection by gastrointestinal pathogens, in particular Helicobacter pylori and/or a disease associated with infection by said gastrointestinal pathogen in mammals.
US09603884B2
A nutritional supplement composition enhances cognitive function and includes huperzine A, vinpocetine, acetyl-L-carnitine, and rhodiola. The composition is formulated for oral administration. The huperzine A, vinpocetine, acetyl-L-carnitine, and rhodiola are in a ratio a:b:c:d: respectively such that a as the huperzine A is between about 0.8 and 1.2, b as vinpocetine is between about 80 and 120, c as rhodiola is about 1,600 and 2,400, and d as the acetyl-L-carnitine is between about 8,000 and 12,000.
US09603874B2
Disclosed is a method for enhancing the function of a T cell, which is characterized by inhibiting the expression of programmed death-1 ligand 1 (PD-L1) and/or programmed death-1 ligand 2 (PD-L2) in the T cell. Also disclosed is a function-enhanced T cell which is produced by the function enhancement method. Further disclosed is a therapeutic agent comprising the function-enhanced T cell. The T cell can enhance an immune response to cancer, and is useful in an immunotherapy effective for cancer and the treatment or prevention of infectious diseases and autoimmune diseases.
US09603871B2
Methods of treating gastro-esophageal reflux disease in a subject are provided. The methods can include administering an effective amount of a formulation to treat the gastroesophageal reflux disease, the formulation having a water soluble tannin combined with hydrogen peroxide in a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient; wherein, the tannin has a molecular weight ranging from about 170 Daltons to about 4000 Daltons; the tannin:peroxide weight ratio ranges from about 1:1000 to about 10:1; and, the composition at least inhibits a gastrointestinal spasm associated with gastroesophageal reflux disease in the subject when compared to a second subject in a control group in which the composition was not administered.
US09603868B1
The present invention is directed to a substantially homogeneous miscible liquid adhesive composition comprising a relatively high number average molecular weight (Mn=6,000-10,000 g/mole) multi-arm star polymer having polyisobutylene chains terminated with cyanoacrylate groups (High-Ø(PIB-CA)3); 2-octyl cyanoacrylate (Oct-CA); and a low boiling point biocompatible solvent having a boiling point of not more than 37° C. When this adhesive composition contacted with living tissue and reacted with a nucleophile, such as water or an initiator, the biocompatible solvent will evaporate and the High-Ø(PIB-CA)3 and Oct-CA will co-polymerize in-situ to form a poly(2-octyl cyanoacrylate)-polyisobutylene co-network suitable for any of a number of biomedical applications, from wound closure and healing of skin tissue, to sealant for surgical cuts.
US09603852B2
Disclosed are methods and compositions for treating pulmonary arterial hypertension and/or obesity using inhibitors of prostaglandin transporter (PGT) activity.
US09603846B2
A crystalline Form N-1 of apixaban substantially free from one or more of: 1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-7-oxo-6-(4-(2-oxopiperidin-1-yl)phenyl)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-c]pyridine-3-carboxylic acid; 7-oxo-6-(4-(2-oxopiperidin-1-yl)phenyl)-1-phenyl-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-c]pyridine-3-carboxamide; or methyl 1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-7-oxo-6-(4-(2-oxopiperidin-1-yl)phenyl)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-c]pyridine-3-carboxylate, relative to apixaban by area percentage of HPLC and having a mean particle size equal to or greater than 100 μm.
US09603837B2
Indole-3-propionic acid as a marker and for treatment for Huntington Disease.
US09603824B2
The invention features methods of inhibiting the growth of, or killing, fungal and certain bacterial microorganisms with one or more of a family of glycerol-based compounds.
US09603821B2
8-[2-(2-pentyl-cyclopropylmethyl)-cyclopropyl]-octanoic acid has a protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) inhibitory action, an Akt activating action, a GSK-3β phosphorylation promoting action, and a suppressive action on τ protein phosphorylation induced by Aβ1-42, and is useful as a therapeutic drug for Alzheimer-type dementia, an antidepressant and/or an anti-aging drug.
US09603819B2
The present invention provides a compound of formula I′; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein R1, R2, R3, X and n are defined herein. The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing the compounds of the invention, and its therapeutic uses. The present invention further provides a combination of pharmacologically active agents and a pharmaceutical composition.
US09603808B2
Therapeutic compositions and methods for treatment of attention deficit disorder (ADD) or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) include dosage forms that deliver a therapeutic amount of active drug in a delayed and controlled release formulation. The dosage form can be administered at night and drug release is delayed for from 5 to 8 hours or longer, followed by a prolonged release.
US09603805B2
It has been desired to develop a coating composition, which is used for an orally-administered preparation having an improved administering property, and/or an easily administrable preparation that does not affect dissolution property. The present invention provides a coating composition comprising: a first thickener selected from the group consisting of a carboxyvinyl polymer and sodium alginate; a polyvalent metal compound; at least one type of a second thickener selected from the group consisting of xanthan gum, guar gum and sodium alginate, with the proviso that when the first thickener is sodium alginate the second thickener is not sodium alginate; and sucralose.
US09603795B2
A composite for preparing a transdermal delivery device and a method for synthesizing the composite thereof comprising at least one polymer and at least one macrocyclic molecule, wherein the at least one polymer and the at least one macrocyclic molecule are adapted to form a complex.
US09603791B2
A probiotic formulation includes the following: lactobacillus acidophilus comprising 15.0% to 40.0% per mass of the probiotic formulation; lactobacillus reuteri comprising 5.0% to 20.0% per mass of the probiotic formulation; lactobacillus salivarius comprising 5.0% to 20.0% per mass of the probiotic formulation; lactobacillus paracasei comprising 5.0% to 20.0% per mass of the probiotic formulation; streptococcus thermophiles comprising 5.0% to 20.0% per mass of the probiotic formulation; streptococcus salivarius BLIS K-12 comprising 5.0% to 30.0% per mass of the probiotic formulation; streptococcus salivarius BLIS M-18 comprising 5.0% to 30.0% per mass of the probiotic formulation; zinc oxide comprising 0.2% to 5.0% per mass of the probiotic formulation; hydroxyapatite comprising 0.1% to 25.0% per mass of the probiotic formulation; and dicalcium phosphate comprising 0.1% to 5.0% per mass of the probiotic formulation. The probiotic formulation may be formed into a lozenge or a gum.
US09603784B2
The present invention relates to a process for treating sol-gel capsules comprising a cosmetic or pharmaceutical active material with an inorganic material, as well as sol-gel capsules produced by a process according to the present invention and formulations comprising such sol-gel capsules.
US09603780B2
Dental composition comprising a water-soluble polymerizable compound of the following formula (1): wherein A is a linear or branched linker group represented by the following formula (3), wherein the nitrogen atom of at least two of the termini forms an amide bond with an X moiety; wherein R′ represents a hydrogen atom or a substituted or unsubstituted aliphatic or cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon group, wherein each R may be the same or different L1, L2, and L3 which may be the same or different, independently represent a single bond, or a C2-20 straight-chain, branched or cyclic hydrocarbon group optionally containing from 1 to 6 heteroatoms selected from nitrogen and oxygen in the backbone of the hydrocarbon group, and optionally from 1 to 6 functional groups selected from carboxylic acid groups or a salt thereof, hydroxyl groups, thiol groups and amino groups, and in case a plurality of L1 and L2 are present, each of L1 and L2 may be the same or different; Q1 and Q2, which may be the same or different, independently represent a single bond or a linkage selected from an amide, a urethane, a urea and a thiourea linkage; k is an integer of at least 0, X are moieties containing a polymerizable double bond and forming an amide bond with a nitrogen atom of A, wherein each X may be the same or different and are represented by the following formula (2): wherein R1 and R2 are independent from each other and represent a hydrogen atom, a C1-6 alkyl group or a group —(CH2)m—COOM, wherein M represents a hydrogen atom or a metal atom, m is an integer of from 0 to 6, L is a bond or a C1-6 alkylene group; and n is an integer of at least 2; (ii) an initiator system; optionally a polyacidic polymer; optionally water and/or a water soluble solvent; and optionally a particulate filler.
US09603779B2
A composite material including silanated filler and mixed polymerizable monomer, having a stable pasty property which keeps well and has a consistent usability. A composite material containing a silanated filler, a polymerizable monomer, and a polymerization initiator, and may be produced by a process which includes a mixed polymerizable monomer preparing step, a silanation step, a silanated filler preserving step, a composite material preparing step, a composite material preserving step, a composite material filling step, and a small quantity preserving container preserving step.
US09603774B2
A multipath-output-supporting evidence-based acupuncture and moxibustion acupoint therapeutic and detecting instrument and a using method thereof. The therapeutic and detecting instrument comprises a CPU core unit, a communication module, an audio module and a plurality of detecting, diagnosis and treatment circuits. The detecting, diagnosis and treatment circuit comprises an acupoint detecting unit and an acupoint acupuncture and moxibustion unit. The acupoint detecting unit comprises a resistance detecting circuit and an A/D digital converting circuit. The acupoint acupuncture and moxibustion unit comprises a D/A pulse current generating circuit and an amplifying circuit. The CPU core unit comprises an ARM processor, a memory, an auxiliary circuit and an evidence-based acupuncture and moxibustion therapeutic system, and the ARM processor is connected with the evidence-based acupuncture and moxibustion therapeutic system.
US09603768B1
An ankle flexion and extension machine including a lower leg backing beam having upper and lower ends; a support arm cantilevering from the lower leg backing beam; an arm mounting pivot joint interconnecting the lower leg backing beam's lower end and the support arm's proximal end; a foot plate; a plate mounting pivot joint interconnecting the foot plate and the support arm's distal end, the plate mounting pivot joint being adapted for facilitating dorsiflecting and plantarflecting pivoting movements of the foot plate with respect to the lower leg backing beam; a reversible electric motor connected operatively to the foot plate, the reversible electric motor being adapted for driving the pivoting movement of the foot plate; a floor support base; and a triangulating frame supporting the lower leg backing beam, the support arm and the foot plate over the floor support base.
US09603762B2
A suspension for a vehicle is provided. The suspension includes, for example, a frame, at least one drive assembly and at least one caster pivot arm. The at least one drive assembly and the at least one caster pivot arm are pivotally connected to the frame at a common pivot axis such that the drive assembly and the front caster pivot arm are pivotable relative to one another.
US09603754B2
A disposable absorbent article has a central body defining a first waist end region including a first end edge, a second waist end region spaced longitudinally from the first waist end region and including a second end edge, and a crotch region positioned therebetween. An absorbent core is situated between the end edges, and includes a plurality of elastics incorporated therewith such that the core is substantially laterally contracted in a narrowed region about the elastics. The absorbent core includes at least one end region that is substantially non-elasticized and has a lateral width substantially wider than that of the narrowed region.
US09603753B2
A surgical device that absorbs fluid material on a surface of a cannula comprises a handle, and an absorbent portion coupled to a first end of the handle. The absorbent portion comprises a plurality of absorbent discs separated by at least one spacer. The plurality of absorbent discs and the at least one spacer are disposed about a post, and the at least one spacer is restrained from axial movement relative to the post.
US09603752B2
Apparatus and methods are provided to minimize waste and improve quality and production in web processing operations. The apparatus and methods provide defect detection both before and after application of component patches to a traveling web to create a product. Web defect detection may be provided by way of at least one visual inspection station located upstream from the patch applicator. Patch defect detection may be accomplished by way of a visual inspection station located proximate the patch applicator. If defects are detected in either the traveling web or the component patch prior to patch application, patch application may be prevented until both a satisfactory web and patch are provided. If defects are detected after patch application, the resulting product may be culled. Furthermore, the apparatus may be provided with diagnostic software to warn against extant or imminent machine complications.
US09603748B2
A compression orthosis for a lower limb includes a compression knit having at least one honeycomb area defined by a knit with a first type of mesh interconnecting elastic knitting yarns, non-elastic knitting yarns and elastic weft threads, and a second type of mesh. The structure is defined by elastic knitting yarns having meshes extending over at least two rows. The elastic weft yarns have floats of at least two needles, and the non-elastic knitting yarns have floats of at least one needle.
US09603745B2
Provided is an introducer for use with otolaryngological devices such as Eustachian tube stents. The introducer includes a guide, a stopper, an engager, and a release mechanism. An otolaryngological device having a first surface and a second surface that is nonparallel to the first surface may be loaded on the introducer by frictionally engaging the first surface of the device to a distal terminus of the engager. The device may be unloaded from the introducer by actuating the release mechanism. Upon actuation, the release mechanism slides the distal terminus of the engager toward the guide while the stopper abuts the second surface of the device. As a result, the relative motion between the engager and the stopper slides the device off the engager. Also provided are kits that include the introducer and methods for using the introducer.
US09603744B2
Systems and methods are described for stabilizing an eye for an ocular laser procedure while minimizing corneal distortions which can adversely affect a surgical laser beam. For the systems, a patient interface includes a contact element for stabilizing the eye and establishing a conformal interface with the anterior surface of the cornea. More specifically, devices are disclosed which overlay both a central corneal region and a peripheral corneal region. In some embodiments, a first material is used in the contact element to overlay the central corneal region and a second material is used in the contact element to overlay the peripheral corneal region. Typically, the first and second materials differ in terms of hardness and deformability. In another embodiment disclosed herein, a contact element having a viscoelastic material for stabilizing an eye for a laser procedure is described.
US09603743B2
A device for processing material of a workpiece, the device including a pulsed processing laser, a focusing lens, a beam-deflection unit, a control unit and a confocal detector unit. The intensity of the laser radiation is variable. An imaging unit is provided to detect structures within the workpiece using electromagnetic radiation, wherein the electromagnetic radiation of the imaging unit is radiated via the beam-deflection unit and the focusing lens into the workpiece, and evaluating device is provided and compares the position of the focus of the laser radiation determined by the detector unit with the expected position of the focus in the image of the workpiece obtained by the imaging unit.
US09603741B2
A method and delivery system are disclosed for creating an aqueous flow pathway in the trabecular meshwork, juxtacanalicular trabecular meshwork and Schlemm's canal of an eye for reducing elevated intraocular pressure. Pulsed laser radiation is delivered from the distal end of a fiber-optic probe sufficient to cause photoablation of selected portions of the trabecular meshwork, the juxtacanalicular trabecular meshwork and an inner wall of Schlemm's canal in the target site. The fiber-optic probe may be advanced so as to create an aperture in the inner wall of Schlemm's canal in which fluid from the anterior chamber of the eye flows. The method and delivery system may further be used on any tissue types in the body.
US09603739B2
Injection devices for delivering pharmaceutical compositions into the eye are described. Some devices include a resistance component for controllably deploying an injection needle through the eye wall. The resistance component may be disposed on the injector device, or on a portion of the injection device housing, or on a drug reservoir. Some devices may be removably attached to a drug reservoir, for example, through a luer connector. Other devices may comprise internal luer seal for securely connecting a drug conduit of the device to the luer cavity of a drug reservoir. Yet other devices may comprise a priming-enabling element to facilitate the drug priming of a shielded needle. Related methods and systems comprising the devices are also described.
US09603720B2
Guides configured to guide one or more osteotomes to remove a femoral component that is implanted in a femur. When implanted, the femoral component includes a stem implanted within the femur, a proximal end that extends from the femur, and a receptacle in the proximal end. The guides are configured to attach to the femoral component and attach to the receptacle in the femoral component. The guides include one or more openings sized to guide the osteotomes along the stem of the femoral component. The guides may further include multiple different sections that can be attached together.
US09603714B2
An expanding device for expanding the spacing between bones is provided. The expanding device includes a spacer configured to be expandable and disposed between the bones, a catheter provided with the spacer at a distal end thereof and adapted to introduce a filler into the spacer, and a sheath having a lumen through which the catheter is inserted and in which the spacer before expansion can be housed. The spacer includes a spacer body configured to be expandable, an introduction section through which a filler is introduced into a rear-end-side expansion section of the spacer body, and a bypass passage through which part of the filler in the introduction section is introduced into a distal-end-side expansion section of the spacer body.
US09603713B2
A bi-directional fixating transvertebral (BDFT) screw/cage apparatus, a posterior lumbar facet staple and a staple gun for a posterior lumbar facet staple, a posterior cervical facet joint staple, and a staple gun for a posterior cervical facet joint staple are provided. The BDFT apparatus includes an intervertebral cage including a plurality of internal angled screw guides, a plurality of screw members, and a screw locking mechanism that prevents the screw members from pulling out of the internal angled screw guides. The internal angled screw guides orient a first screw member superiorly and a second screw member inferiorly. The intervertebral cage is adapted for posterior lumbar intervertebral placement, anterior lumbar intervertebral placement, anterio-lateral thoracic intervertebral placement, or anterior cervical intervertebral placement.
US09603712B2
A humerus implant has a stem, cup shaped body and a locking adapter. The cup shaped body is locked to the stem by a key-slot mechanism. The cup shaped body has a center portion and a plurality of flexible first sidewall segments and second sidewall segments, with gaps between neighbored sidewall segments. The first sidewall segments have a plurality of locking fins while the second sidewall segments having a plurality of recesses and holes. The locking adapter has means for fixing the locking adapter to the cup shaped body and a locking ring for locking the sidewall segments into their final positions.
US09603709B2
Methods of repairing the mitral valve and reducing mitral regurgitation. One method includes securing a first tissue anchor to a position on a posterior portion of the annular tissue of the mitral valve and a second tissue anchor to a position on an anterior portion of the annular tissue of the mitral valve. At least one tensile member spans between the first and second tissue anchors and across the orifice of the mitral valve. When tension is applied to the at least one tensile member, the posterior portion of the annular tissue is pulled toward the anterior portion.
US09603700B2
The present invention relates to an intracorneal lens (1), comprising a circular main body having a convex front surface and a convex rear surface, characterized in that the convex front surface has a single uniform radius of curvature (Rcv) and the concave rear surface has a radius of curvature (Rcci). The radius of curvature (Rcci) of the concave rear surface is greater than the average radius of the cornea by 0.1 mm to 2 mm, preferably 0.2 to 1.5 mm, in particular preferably 0.5 to 1 mm. The present invention further relates to a kit, comprising a storage unit (15) and a pre-load unit (P) inside the storage unit (15). The storage unit (15) is made of a watertight material and can be closed watertight by means of a plug (16). The pre-load unit (P) is fitted with the intracorneal lens according to the invention.
US09603699B2
Embodiments of this invention generally relate to systems and methods for optical treatment and more particularly to non-invasive refractive treatment method based on sub wavelength particle implantation. In an embodiment, a method for optical treatment identifies an optical aberration of an eye, determines a dopant delivery device configuration in response to the optical aberration of the eye, wherein the determined dopant delivery device is configured to impose a desired correction to the eye to mitigate the identified optical aberration of the eye by applying a doping pattern to the eye so as to locally change a refractive index of the eye.
US09603689B2
A toothbrush is provided. The toothbrush includes an elongated shaft having a brushing head removably attached thereon configured to extend and retract the brushing head from a handle portion. The handle portion is configured to support the brushing head, a rotating assembly, and an antimicrobial assembly. The rotating assembly is configured to rotatably drive the brushing head in either clockwise rotation or counterclockwise rotation. The antimicrobial assembly is configured to sterilize the brushing head and the elongated shaft shaft when retracted within the handle portion. The handle portion further includes a control panel on an exterior face of the handle portion configured to allow a user to operate the rotating assembly and/or the antimicrobial assembly. In this way, the toothbrush allows a user to achieve optimal cleaning of his teeth without introducing harmful microorganisms into his oral cavity.
US09603685B2
An elongated core comprising a nylon or polypropylene is extruded. An interdental cleaner portion, comprising fingers, is injection molded about a first portion of the core. The interdental cleaner portion has thermoplastic elastomer. A handle portion is injection molded about a second portion of the core. The handle portion has polypropylene.
US09603681B2
Dental implant systems for releasable attachment of dental prostheses are shown and described. Each of the dental implant systems includes an implant body, a prosthesis body, and an abutment body with a locking device. The locking device includes a magnetically attractable member having a first end coupled to a spring and a second end. The magnetically attractable member is moveable between a locked position and an unlocked position. The dental implant system further includes a void configured to receive the second end, the magnetically attractable member being at least partially disposed within the void in the locked position, the magnetically attractable member being free of the void in the unlocked position.
US09603677B2
A pre-fabricated ligature with variable friction includes a ligature made of nitinol (1) with a rectangular outline similar to an “O” format, which has free ends (2) that can be deflected to meet the need for affixing of the arch wire (3) to the bracket (5), resulting in variable friction force.
US09603672B2
A surgical system includes an instrument driver having a distal end positionable in a body cavity and a user input device. The instrument driver and user input device are positioned to removably receive distal and proximal portions, respectively, of a surgical instrument. The user input device is configured to generate movement signals in response to manual manipulation of the proximal portion of the surgical instrument. At least one motor operable to actuate the instrument driver in response to the movement signals and to thereby change position of the distal portion of the surgical instrument within the body cavity.
US09603669B2
A method for operating a medical probe includes pressing a distal end of the medical probe, which includes one or more arms that extend diagonally outward from a central shaft and have respective position transducers coupled thereto, against an intra-body surface, so as to cause the arms to exert pressure on the surface and bend with respect to the central shaft in response to the pressure. Positions of the respective position transducers coupled to the arms are measured, and the pressure exerted by the arms is estimated responsively to the measured positions.
US09603664B2
In order to sufficiently cauterize a target site existing in a deep portion of a cardiac muscle tissue even in the case where the fat layer attached to an epicardium is thick or where the cardiac muscle is thickened due to cardiac hypertrophy and the like, provided is an ablation catheter comprising: an elongated catheter main body; an electrode for ablation placed in a leading end part of the catheter main body; and an optical fiber that is placed along a longitudinal direction of the catheter main body, includes an emission end formed on a leading end surface of the catheter main body, and emits a laser beam guided therethrough from the emission end.
US09603663B2
A method of performing an ablation procedure includes inserting an antenna assembly into tissue and supplying energy thereto for application to tissue. The method also includes causing contact between a first material and at least one other material disposed within the antenna assembly to thermally regulate the antenna assembly. According to another embodiment, an ablation system includes an energy delivery assembly. A first chamber is defined within the energy delivery assembly and is configured to hold a first chemical. Another chamber is defined within the energy delivery assembly and is configured to hold at least one other chemical. The first chamber and the other chamber are configured to selectively and fluidly communicate with each other to cause contact between the first chemical and the at least one other chemical to cause an endothermic reaction and/or an exothermic reaction.
US09603661B2
A device positionable in a cavity of a bodily organ (e.g., a heart) may discriminate between fluid (e.g., blood) and non-fluid tissue (e.g., wall of heart) to provide information or a mapping indicative of a position and/or orientation of the device in the cavity. Discrimination may be based on flow, or some other characteristic, for example electrical permittivity or force. The device may selectively ablate portions of the non-fluid tissue based on the information or mapping. The device may detect characteristics (e.g., electrical potentials) indicative of whether ablation was successful. The device may include a plurality of transducers, intravascularly guided in an unexpended configuration and positioned proximate the non-fluid tissue in an expanded configuration. Expansion mechanism may include helical member(s) or inflatable member(s).
US09603658B2
An embodiment of the invention includes a surgical device for coagulating soft tissue such as atrial tissue in the treatment of atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, and atrial tachycardia; tendon or ligament shrinkage; or articular cartilage removal. The surgical device integrates a suction mechanism with the coagulation mechanism improving the lesion creation capabilities of the device. The surgical device comprises an elongate member having an insulative covering attached about conductive elements capable of coagulating soft tissue when radiofrequency or direct current energy is transmitted to the conductive elements. Openings through the insulative covering expose regions of the conductive elements and are coupled to lumens in the elongate member which are routed to a vacuum source. Suction causes the soft tissue to actively engage the opening thus the integrated, exposed conductive elements to facilitate the coagulation process and ensure the lesions created are consistent, continuous, and transmural. The embodiments of the invention can also incorporate cooling mechanisms associated with the conductive elements and coupled to a fluid source to passively transport fluid along the contacted soft tissue surface to cool thus pushing the maximum temperature deeper into tissue.
US09603656B1
A medical device includes an elongated sleeve having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end and a distal end. A cutting member having a plurality of sharp edges is formed from a wear-resistant ceramic material is carried at the distal end of the elongated sleeve. A motor drive is coupled to the proximal end of the elongated sleeve to rotate the sleeve at cutting member at high RPMs to cut bone and other hard tissue. An electrode is carried in a distal portion of ceramic cutting member for RF ablation of tissue when the sleeve and cutting member are is a stationary position. In methods of use, (i) the ceramic member can be engaged against bone and then rotated at high speed to cut bone tissue, and (ii) the ceramic member can be held in a stationary (non-rotating) position to engage tissue and RF energy can be delivered to the electrode to create a plasma that ablates tissue.
US09603655B2
An electrosurgical instrument includes a proximal end and a distal end having a jaw member assembly at the distal end including a first jaw member and a second jaw member movable relative thereto. The jaw members can be transferred relative to each other from an opening position into a gripping position in which they are arranged to be closer to each other than in the opening position. Each jaw member has at least one electrode connectable to an electric power source and electrodes of both jaw members being adapted to interact for sealing body tissue held between the jaw members in the gripping position, actuating means for transferring the jaw members from the opening position into the gripping position and means for limiting the closing width of the jaw members, when they are transferred from the opening position into the gripping position.
US09603649B2
An orthopedic surgical instrument for use in disassembling an orthopedic prosthesis includes a main component, a rod, and a spindle. The main component has a housing and an elongated body extending from the housing with a passageway is defined in the elongated body. The rod has an elongated shaft, with a greater length than the elongated body, extending from the head of the rod and configured to pass through the main component. The spindle threads into the housing to move the rod along a longitudinal axis.
US09603632B1
A tulip bone screw assembly has a bone screw, a tulip and a saddle. The bone screw has a threaded shank and a polyaxial head. The tulip has a slotted opening for receiving a rod and an open distal end for passing the shank of the bone screw and holding the head and a locking ring positioned between the slotted opening and the distal end. The saddle has an axis defined by a center opening, a proximal concave end for engaging and holding the rod and a distal end with a plurality of friction fingers bent inwardly toward an axis of the saddle for applying a friction force to the head of the bone screw.
US09603626B2
The invention provides a method and apparatus for cranial fixation following a craniotomy and treatment for increased intracranial pressure. The cranial fixation device comprises of plates attached to the skull with a telescopic screw. The telescopic screw provides constrained movement of the bone flap relative to the skull to accommodate an increase in the intracranial pressure.
US09603613B2
A patient-specific alignment guide includes a patient-specific portion and a guiding element having a through opening. The patient-specific portion has a patient-specific surface preoperatively configured to mate as a negative of a portion of an iliac crest of a pelvis of a specific patient and mate to the iliac crest only in one position. The guiding element has a preoperatively configured orientation and location relative to the patient-specific portion for preparing a bore in the bone of the patient to direct a bone screw at the preoperatively configured orientation and location for sacroiliac fixation.
US09603612B2
Methods and instruments for reconstructing soft tissues of a skeletal joint such as for example of the foot or hand are presented.
US09603609B2
An energy supplier of an ultrasonic treatment system can output an electric power in a first output mode and a second output mode in which the electric power supplied to a drive force generation unit during a unit time is higher than in the first output mode. A controller maintains an output state of the electric power in the first output mode when a judgment section judges that a load on an ultrasonic probe is less than or equal to a threshold, and switches the output state of the electric power to the second output mode when the judgment section judges that the load is more than the first threshold.
US09603597B2
Various embodiments of a non-deforming surgical fastener are discussed. In one embodiment, the fastener includes two legs and a backspan extending between the two legs. The fastener also includes a backspan thickness that is adapted to reduce the pressure and/or increase the holding strength applied to underlying materials. The non-deforming fastener is constructed and arranged to retain substantially the same shape before, during and after deployment into the target implantation site.
US09603595B2
A surgical instrument can comprise a first jaw, a second jaw, and a firing system configured to be advanced relative to the first jaw and the second jaw. The firing system can comprise a firing member including a first portion configured to engage the first jaw and a second portion configured to engage the second jaw in order to position the first jaw and the second jaw relative to one another.
US09603591B2
A method for securing an anchor to tissue includes positioning the anchor in an area of the tissue. The anchor can include a flexible first tubular member, a flexible second tubular member, and a first suture member. The first tubular member can include a first wall defining a first passage between first and second ends. The second tubular member can include a second wall defining a second passage between first and second ends. The first suture member can couple the first tubular member and the second tubular member. The first suture member can pass through the first wall and the first passage and the second wall and the second passage. The first tubular member and the second tubular member can engage each other and deform to form an anchoring mass upon tensioning the first suture member.
US09603590B2
A single-arm stabilizer having suction capability includes a single, small leg through which suction can be applied. The leg has an upper surface and a lower surface that are spaced apart to define a chamber. The lower surface includes a plurality of openings that are disposed adjacent each other. A support arm is connected to the leg in order to position the leg as desired. A suction line is in fluid communication with the chamber in order to create a vacuum within the chamber. The stabilizer can be used to stabilize any desired portion of a patient's body, but is particularly effective at stabilizing the septum of a patient's heart. Such stabilization can be accomplished by inserting the leg into the patient's heart through the aorta.
US09603588B2
A tissue puncture locator device includes a temporary anchor configured for placement through a vascular puncture into a vessel. The temporary anchor includes a column member that defines a lumen. The temporary anchor is movable between an uncompressed position and a compressed position, wherein in the compressed poition a portion of the column member protrudes radially outward. The column member may include a reduced thickness portion, wherein the column member protrudes radially outward at the reduced thickness portion. The column member, when expanded radially outward within the vessel, is sized to limit retraction of the temporary anchor through the vascular puncture.
US09603585B2
Core biopsy scissors capable of one-handed use by a medical professional, and include blades capable of making a rotatable core cut, in addition to elevating, clipping, and collecting a sample from targeted tissue in a patient.
US09603581B2
An ultrasonic transducer includes: a first electrode layer disposed on an upper substrate and a support; a second electrode layer which is disposed on a lower surface of the upper substrate and is separated from the first electrode layer; an upper electrode disposed on an upper surface of a membrane to contact an upper surface of the first electrode layer; a trench formed through the upper electrode, the membrane, the support, and the upper substrate; and a pad substrate disposed under the upper substrate and including bonding pads that electrically connect to the first and second electrode layers, respectively.
US09603566B2
Provided are a sleep awaking system and a sleep awaking method. The system comprises: a sign parameter collecting module for collecting a sign parameter of a human body; a time determining module for determining whether the present time is a REM determining time; a REM determining module for obtaining the sign parameter and determining whether the human body is in a REM stage according to the sign parameter in a REM determining period when the time determining module determines that the present time is the REM determining time; an awaking module for awaking the human body after a pre-awaking period when the REM determining module determines that the human body is in the REM stage and causing the human body to enter the REM stage within the pre-awaking period and awaking the human body after the pre-awaking period when the REM determining module determines that the human body is not in the REM stage, wherein the REM determining period and the pre-awaking period pass in turn from the REM determining time to the awaking time. The above system and method realize awaking the human body in the REM stage, making the human body feel a clear mind, act agilely, and full of spirit and energy after being awaked, which is good for health of the human body.
US09603553B2
A device for measuring an expanded internal orifice of a patient includes an orifice-expanding device, a pressure measuring device, and a size-measuring device. The size-measuring device measures a dimension of the orifice after it has been expanded by the orifice-expanding device.
US09603551B2
An inductive respiration sensor (10) comprises an inductive transducer (12) and sensing circuitry. The sensing circuitry comprises a transimpedance amplifier, TIA, (14), the sense input (16) of which is operatively connected to the inductive transducer. The TIA is configured to drive a current from its output (20) into the sense input such that the voltage on the sense input follows the voltage applied to the reference input (18) and to cause a voltage on the output indicative of the current. The TIA comprises a first (34) and a second (30) transistor. The collector or drain and the emitter or source of the first transistor are operatively connected between the sense input and the output of the TIA. The emitter or source of the second transistor is connected to the reference input, the collector or drain of the second transistor is connected to the base or gate of the first transistor, and the base or gate of the second transistor is connected to the sense input.
US09603550B2
The ingestible event marker data framework provides a uniform, comprehensive framework to enable various functions and utilities related to ingestible event marker data (IEM data). Included are a receiver adapted to be associated with a body of an individual, the receiver configured to receive IEM data; a hub to receive the IEM data; and at least one IEM data system to receive the data from the hub. Among other information, behavioral data and predictive inferences may be provided.
US09603544B2
The present invention relates to a method of determining physical, chemical and/or biological state variables, particularly substance concentrations, temperature, pH and/or physical fields, and/or the change in these state variables in an examination area of an examination object by determining the change in the spatial distribution of magnetic particles in this examination area as a function of the effect of influencing variables on at least a partarea and/or in the conditions in at least a part-area of the examination area, by means of the following steps: a) introducing magnetic particles into at least part of the examination area in a first state in which in the examination area or in parts thereof at least some of the magnetic particles that are to be examined are agglomerated and/or coupled to one another in pairs or more, or introducing magnetic particles into at least part of the examination area in a second state in which the particles are deagglomerated and/or decoupled and can be agglomerated and/or coupled, b) generating a magnetic field with a spatial profile of the magnetic field strength such that there is produced in the examination area a first part-area having a low magnetic field strength and a second part-area having a higher magnetic field strength, c) changing the, in particular relative, spatial position of the two part-areas in the examination area or changing the magnetic field strength in the first part-area so that the magnetization of the particles is locally changed, d) detecting signals that depend on the magnetization in the examination area that is influenced by this change, and e) evaluating the signals so as to obtain information about the change in the spatial distribution of the magnetic particles and/or about physical, chemical and/or biological state variables or the change therein in the examination area. The invention further relates to magnetic particle compositions, in particular functionalized magnetic particle compositions and their use in a method according to the invention. The invention further also relates to an apparatus for the measurement of state variables in the examination area.
US09603539B2
A system for modeling electrical activity of an anatomical structure. The system includes a database that is configured to store cell set data corresponding to a group of cells of the anatomical structure. The cell set data includes a cell model that represents electrical activity of the group of cells. The cell model has a model parameter that relates to ion channels in the cells. The electrical activity represented by the cell model is at least partially based upon the model parameter. The system also includes a user interface that is configured to accept user inputs to change the model parameter and thereby change the electrical activity represented by the cell model to form a reconfigured cell model. The system also includes a display that is configured to display the user inputs and a processor that is configured to determine the electrical activity of the anatomical structure using the reconfigured cell model.
US09603536B2
A patient's vital sign measurements are displayed in a fishbone diagram defined by a horizontal line with a vertical line crossing it to form four compartments. The patient's respiratory rate and heart rate are displayed in assigned compartments above the horizontal line separated by the vertical line and the patient's oxygen saturation (SpO2) and temperature are displayed in assigned compartments below the horizontal line separated by vertical lines. Two diverging horizontal lines form a sideways “V” are connected with the right hand side of the horizontal line to define a fifth compartment in which the patient's blood pressure is displayed.
US09603531B2
A system for in-place visualization of sensed data is provided. The system includes a formable sheet comprising a display and sensors embedded within the sheet underneath the display. The display will display information relating to sensed data on a portion of the display corresponding to locations of the sensors located underneath the display. As a result, the display displays the information above or directly above the sensors that output data.
US09603528B2
A system for direct imaging and diagnosing of abnormal cells in a target tissue includes a disposable optical speculum and an image acquisition system having the speculum assembled on and mechanically secured thereto. The image acquisition system is arranged to capture at least one of a single image or multiple images or video of cells within the target tissue using at least one of bright field or dark field ring illumination divided into independently operated segments to obtain a plurality of data sets. An image analysis and control unit in communication with the image acquisition system analyzes the data sets and applies algorithms to the data sets for diagnosing abnormal cells.
US09603519B2
Embodiments of the invention provide methods and systems for analyzing the ophthalmic anatomy of a patient posterior to the cornea. The method may include scanning a focus of a femtosecond laser beam along a path within the patient's eye. A portion of the path may be disposed posterior to the patient's cornea. The method may also include acquiring a first reflectance image and a second reflectance image associated with the focus disposed respectively at a first location of the path and a second location of the path. The method may further include determining the presence or absence of an ophthalmic anatomical feature of the eye based on a comparison between the first reflectance image and the second reflectance image.
US09603516B2
A system and method for determining an objective quality metric for image data collected by a wavefront aberrometer. The method may include quantifying a plurality of characteristics of the image data and calculating the objective quality metric based on the quantified characteristics of the image data. The objective quality metric can be a weighted sum of the quantified characteristics of the image data. The weightings for the weighted sum can be determined based on subjective quality metrics assigned to a set of training image data by a human expert.
US09603504B2
Various apparatus for cleaning footwear are described. One footwear cleaning apparatus includes a box having an open top surface for receiving a piece of footwear; and a plurality of brushes arrayed within the box and positioned substantially parallel to a bottom surface of the box, wherein the plurality of brushes includes at least one first brush configured to contact a first side surface of the piece of footwear, at least one second brush configured to contact a different, second side surface of the piece of footwear, and at least one third brush configured to contact a bottom surface of the piece of footwear, and wherein the at least one first brush and the at least one second brush are configured to, when actuated, rotate towards a center of the box about an axis that is substantially parallel to the bottom surface of the box.
US09603485B2
A rotisserie mounting bracket assembly for a cooking grill having a cooking surface having a plurality of ribs. The bracket has a bracket base with at least one downward projection situated between a pair of adjacent ribs, and a bracket extension extending vertically from the bracket base and having at least one surface adapted to retain a skewer.
US09603483B2
Self-heating systems for rapidly and effectively heating a comestible substance are disclosed. Self-heating systems generally include a reaction chamber and a heating chamber. The heating chamber contains a substance to be heated. The reaction chamber contains reactants that, when contacted, exothermically react. The containers and reactants can be configured to heat at least six fluid ounces of comestible substance in less than one minute. The solid chemical reactant mixture can comprise magnesium chloride, calcium chloride, and/or calcium oxide. Methods for heating at least six fluid ounces of comestible substance in less than one minute are also provided.
US09603482B2
Systems and methods are shown for providing hot beverages using a beverage system integrated into a faucet. The faucet-integrated beverage system can include a hot water reservoir mounted under a countertop and fluidly coupled to a cold water supply line. The temperature and fill level in the hot water reservoir can be controlled using control circuitry provided on a circuit board communicatively coupled to the hot water reservoir and one or more sensors. A beverage supply line can extend from the hot water reservoir to a beverage dispensing unit, which can be coupled to the faucet or mounted on the faucet deck. The beverage system can also include an activation button mounted on the faucet or the faucet deck and communicatively coupled to the control board for initiating a brewing process.
US09603472B2
A popcorn salt holding and dispensing system and method includes a container that has a quantity of popcorn therein. The container has a bottom wall and a peripheral wall which is attached to and extends upwardly therefrom. The peripheral wall has an upper edge defining an opening extending into the container. A housing has salt therein and the housing includes a first end, a second end and a perimeter wall extending between the first and second ends. The first end has a plurality of apertures extending therethrough to allow salt from the housing to flow outwardly of the housing through the apertures. The housing is removably coupled to the container with a mounting and moved back and forth over the popcorn to deposit salt on the popcorn.
US09603471B2
A lid for a beverage cup includes a mouth opening, an aroma opening, and a concentrator member. The mouth opening is positioned closer to a rim of the lid than the aroma opening. An area of the aroma opening is greater than an area of the mouth opening. The concentrator member surrounds the aroma opening and extends from a plane formed by the aroma opening to a height above the aroma opening. A cross sectional area of the concentrator decreases in a direction from a base to an upper end of the concentrator, creating a concentration of beverage aromas in the space surrounding a user's nose. The concentrator channels a concentrated amount of aroma to the nose, providing an enhanced drinking and tasting experience.
US09603470B2
One embodiment of the current application is a device that can mount to a surface or stand on a table and interchangeably displays one or more sheets of materials. The device comprises a front panel and a back panel. One or more linear wave springs are installed between the two panels. Sheets of materials can be inserted in-between one of the two panels and the linear wave springs. The linear wave springs hold the sheets of materials onto the front panel and/or the back panel. The visual information on the sheets is displayed through one or more display windows on the panels.Another embodiment of the current application is a device that displays a long sheet of material. There are images and/or messages of personal status, feeling, emotion, expression, or greeting on the long sheet of material. The long sheet of material passes over a supporting panel and is attached to two parallel rollers. The top and bottom portions of the supporting panel are curve shaped and flexible. The curved and flexible portion of the panel help keep the long sheet of material in tension. Three mesh well gears can rotate the rollers in synchronism. One of the three gears partially extrudes out of the device housing to be driven by human hands.
US09603456B2
A rotating device for an armrest is connected with a fixing mount disc on a top surface of an armrest seat and is rotatably coupled with a rotary plate on a bottom surface of the support plate. The fixing mount disc includes a conical groove and a threaded orifice formed on the conical groove, and the conical groove has a toothed slot. The rotary plate includes a post corresponding to the conical groove and the toothed slot, the rotary plate also includes an extending fringe extending outwardly from an outer side thereof to contact with a peripheral side of the fixing mount disc, wherein the post has two recesses, each recess extends outwardly from each of two sides of the post to accommodate each of two slidable retainers, and each slidable retainer is pushed by a spring and has a locking tab for retaining with the toothed slot.
US09603453B2
A reclining health-care chair includes: a base configured to rest on an underlying surface; a frame including a pair of opposed arms; a seat; a backrest; a footrest; a tilting mechanism comprising a plurality of pivotally interconnected links, the tilting mechanism attached to the base and to the seat and configured to control movement of the seat relative to the base; a reclining mechanism comprising a plurality of pivotally interconnected links, the reclining mechanism attached to the backrest, footrest, seat, frame and tilting mechanism to control relative movement of the backrest, footrest, frame and seat relative to the base; and a power actuating unit attached to the seat and to the tilting mechanism. The chair is movable between (a) an upright position, in which the footrest is retracted beneath the seat, the seat defines an angle α relative to the underlying surface, and the backrest defines an angle ε relative to the underlying surface, and (b) a fully reclined position, in which the footrest is extended in front of the seat, the seat defines an angle γ relative to the underlying surface that is greater than the angle α, the backrest defines an angle δ relative to the underlying surface that is less than the angle ε, and the footrest is positioned such that an occupant's feet are higher than the occupant's heart.
US09603441B2
A toothbrush that enhances cleaning and user comfort while brushing. In one embodiment, the toothbrush comprises a cleaning element support member, or base member, that permits a head of the toothbrush to be comfortably received and manipulated within the user's mouth. In an embodiment, the support member comprises a head support having an overhanging portion and a portion free of an overhang.
US09603425B2
A case incorporates a built-in stand for an electronic device, such as an electronic tablet computer, which the case houses. The case protects the electronic device and allows a user to view and access the device without removing it from the case. The built-in stand is adjustable and allows for multiple viewing angles.
US09603422B1
An automated hands-free umbrella, having a controller unit integration module with a motor assembly. The motor assembly has a shaft and a directional propeller. A power module has a housing. The housing has a gas container module. The gas container module has a container having gas. Further having an umbrella canopy module, a handle assembly, and a data coordinator system module. The automated hands-free umbrella sustains itself in the air by controlling the umbrella's buoyancy or floatability with an incorporated gas, such as helium. Also has means to hover over a user, even as the user is stationary or while moving.
US09603413B2
A cushioning sole for footwear includes a heel portion, an opening, and a cushioning slide. The heel portion includes a top surface and a bottom surface. The opening extends vertically through the heel portion from the bottom surface to the top surface. The cushioning slide is disposed in the opening and extends out from the top surface and out from the bottom surface.
US09603411B2
A golf shoe outsole comprises a thin, flexible base layer having many discrete platforms projecting downwardly from the base layer for providing traction elements. The platforms are separated by channels and open regions to allow the discrete platforms to readily flex relative to one another about the thin base layer, providing enhanced flexibility to the outsole and improved traction performance during a dynamic act such as a golf swing.
US09603402B2
A novelty apparel includes multiple attached conformable, selectable and viewable occupational role playing indicia. A baseball cap includes a dome shaped crown of compound curves and a forward facing sun visor brim portion, a transparent window in a central front face portion of the dome shaped crown, where the window displays a single indicium selectable from a number of different indicia carried on a display surface conformable to said dome shaped crown. The selected indicium is displayed centered above the brim. The display surface conforms to the curved interior of the dome shaped crown, wherein the baseball cap does not deviate substantially from the look of a typical baseball cap with a single permanent indicium.
US09603396B2
A filtering face-piece respirator 10 that includes a harness 14 and a mask body 12 that has a multi-layer filtering structure 16. The mask body 12 includes an upper interior perimeter segment 24a formed from the filtering structure 16 and configured to fit against the face of the respirator wearer. Present in the upper interior perimeter segment 24a is a nose notch 52, 62, which is an area void of filtering structure 16.
US09603394B2
A batting pad comprising a body made from a cushioning material and having a ring portion adapted to fit over a batter's thumb and an appendage to cushion the palm area between a batter's thumb and index finger. The appendage has a thickness T at its thickest point located between the first end and the distant end, and the thickness T of the appendage is selected to optimize an angle of a bat in the batter's hand relative to a line parallel to the batter's forearm, the angle being determined by the thickness T of the appendage displacing the bat toward the tip of the batter's index finger and causing the bat to contact the palm of the batter's hand near the batter's little finger.
US09603392B2
A bra comprising a front portion and two side portions. The front portion comprises bra cups. Each side portion extends from a respective side of the front portion and the side portions are adapted to encircle a torso of a wearer of the bra. The front portion and the side portions comprise an outer layer and a frame layer beneath the outer layer. The frame layer comprises: an outer frame layer, and an inner frame layer disposed inward from the outer frame layer with respect to the torso of the wearer of the bra. The inner frame layer comprises a plurality of panels. The panels alternate between primary panels primarily stretchable in a first direction and secondary panels primarily stretchable in a second direction.
US09603385B2
Immobilized diluents in a smoking article are provided, wherein diluents can be immobilized through absorption and/or adsorption of the diluents into immobilizing materials, such as sorbents like silica gels. By immobilizing diluents, the diluents can be available for vaporization, while still being protected from migration and/or loss of the diluents in a smoking article.
US09603383B2
A method of entraining gas in a flowable food product comprising the steps of accelerating the flowable food product in a flow direction through a flow channel that includes a ramp. Gas is injected into the flowable food product transverse to the flow direction through a porous surface or plate while the food product traverses the ramp to generate a froth. An apparatus for entraining gas in a food product, comprises a source of flowable food product and a food product pump to accelerate the food product through a flow channel. A ramp is disposed in the flow channel as well as a porous surface forming a wall of the flow channel opposite the ramp. A source of gas is in communication with the porous surface, wherein gas is entrained in the food product as it passes by the ramp and the porous surface.
US09603379B2
A family of novel feline bitter taste receptors, referred to as feline TAS2R (fTAS2R), are disclosed herein. Isolated polynucleotides encoding the novel feline bitter taste receptors and chimeric polypeptides are also disclosed, as are expression vectors and host cells for expression of the novel feline bitter taste receptors. Methods of identifying compounds that bind to the novel feline bitter taste receptors and modulate their activity are disclosed.
US09603377B2
A soy protein product having a protein content of at least about 60 wt % (N×6.25) d.b., preferably a soy protein isolate having a protein content of at least about 90 wt % (N×6.25) d.b., is prepared from a soy protein source material by extraction of the soy protein source material with an aqueous calcium salt solution, preferably calcium chloride solution, to cause solubilization of soy protein from the protein source and to form an aqueous soy protein solution, separating the aqueous soy protein solution from residual soy protein source, concentrating the aqueous soy protein solution while maintaining the ionic strength substantially constant by using a selective membrane technique, optionally diafiltering the concentrated soy protein solution, diluting the concentrated and optionally diafiltered soy protein solution into water to cause the formation of a precipitate, acidifying the mixture of precipitate and diluting water to re-solubilize the precipitate and form a clear acidified soy protein solution, concentrating the clear acidified soy protein solution while maintaining the ionic strength substantially constant by using a selective membrane technique, optionally diafiltering the concentrated clear acidified soy protein solution, and drying the concentrated and optionally diafiltered clear acidified soy protein solution.
US09603374B2
Soft or firm/semi-hard ripened or unripened cheese products that has a native or modified starch and one or more additional ingredients are described. The additional ingredients may be chosen from a non-fat dry milk, a milk protein, an acidity regulator, an acid, an anticaking agent, an antifoaming agent, a coloring agent, an emulsifier, an enzyme preparation, a flavoring agent, a firming agent, a food protein, a gelling agent, a preservative, sequestrants, a stabilizer, a thickener, an oil, a fat, a cheese powder, a salt, a nutritional supplement, an acid, an enzyme, a neutraceutical, a carbohydrate, a vitamin, and a mineral. The starch, and additional ingredients may have a combined concentration of greater than 10%, by weight of the cheese product.
US09603365B2
The present invention provides a method for producing a co-crystal including thiophanate-methyl and a triazole-based compound such as tebuconazole and a method for producing an agricultural and horticultural chemical preparation using the co-crystal as a raw material. As one example, the agricultural and horticultural chemical preparation can be obtained by a method including the steps of obtaining a sol including a co-crystal by stirring a suspension including thiophanate-methyl, a triazole compound such as a tebuconazole, a surfactant, a defoaming agent and water at a mixing degree of 0.1-1.0 while holding the temperature of the suspension at 60° C.; and adding auxiliary components such as silica, calcium carbonate and the like to the sol.
US09603363B2
Disclosed herein are herbicidal compositions comprising a herbicidal effective amount of (a) aminopyralid, or an agriculturally acceptable salt or ester thereof, (b) triclopyr, or an agriculturally acceptable salt or ester thereof, and (c) an organosilicone surfactant. Also disclosed herein are methods of controlling undesirable vegetation, which comprise applying to vegetation or an area adjacent the vegetation or applying to soil or water to prevent the emergence or growth of vegetation (a) aminopyralid, or an agriculturally acceptable salt or ester thereof, (b) triclopyr, or an agriculturally acceptable salt or ester thereof, and (c) an organosilicone surfactant.
US09603357B2
A method to evaporate active ingredients from a liquid solution, in which said liquid solution includes a solvent and at least one type of active ingredient, the method including dispensing in controlled time periods doses of said liquid solution on a liquid retaining support, where the solvent is evaporated from the support such that only the active ingredient remains on the support, and where the active ingredient is evaporated from the support after most of the solvent has evaporated.
US09603350B2
An above-ground termite station includes a container having a base, a side, and a lid together defining an interior space of the container. The side has at least two peripheral openings in spaced relationship with each other about a periphery of the container. Each of the peripheral openings is at least partially closed by a respective access closure that can be selectively removed to provide access to the interior space of the container through the peripheral opening. The container is mountable on an above-ground mounting surface with the base in generally opposed relationship with and abutting against the mounting surface. The lid is positionable between a closed position and an open position to permit access to the interior space of the container. A cartridge is sized and configured for insertion in and removal from the interior space of the container.
US09603347B2
A fishing rod can be switched between greater rigidity in one configuration to greater flexibility in another configuration. The configuration having greater flexibility is useful when enhanced sensitivity to fish strikes is desired.
US09603346B2
An aquarium includes a curved aquarium housing that supports water, the water including a water surface that separates water from air within the housing. The aquarium also includes a lighting system coupled to the aquarium housing, the lighting system including an arm and a light element disposed at an end of the arm and outside of the aquarium housing that directs light into the aquarium housing at an angle less than 90 degrees relative to the water surface.
US09603330B2
The present invention provides novel snap pea cultivar Sugar 153 and plant parts, seed, and tissue culture therefrom. The invention also provides methods for producing a pea plant by crossing the pea plants of the invention with themselves or another pea plant. The invention also provides pea plants produced from such a crossing as well as plant parts, seed, and tissue culture therefrom.
US09603329B2
Herein provided is a new wheat cultivar designated ‘GA 04570-10E46’ as well as the seeds, plants and derivatives of the new wheat variety ‘GA 04570-10E46’ (such as cultivars and hybrids related thereto). Also provided are tissue cultures of the new wheat variety ‘GA 04570-10E46’ and the plants regenerated therefrom. Methods for producing wheat plants by crossing the new wheat variety ‘GA 04570-10E46’ with itself or another wheat variety and plants produced by such methods are also provided.
US09603321B2
The present invention relates to new Zea mays plants which are resistant to both Western Corn Rootworm (WCR) and European Corn Borer (ECB) and do not express an insecticidal protein derived from Bacillus thuringiensis. The invention is also directed to hybrids, progeny and seeds of those plants.
US09603315B2
A dripper detection device for an irrigation pipe manufacturing system includes a continuous pipe feeder capable of making a pipe equipped with drippers, each dripper having a water outlet. The pipe circulates along a predetermined circulation direction (X-X′) while keeping the drippers' water outlets in a predetermined orientation. The dripper detection device includes a laser detection unit with a laser source emitting a laser beam directed to the pipe outer face location where drippers are present at regular intervals, and a laser signal receiver which receives and analyses the laser beam reflected on the pipe outer face to provide a transformed reflected signal which contains information about the passage of each dripper facing said laser detection unit.
US09603314B2
A truck for tree limb removal is disclosed in residential, commercial, municipal, utility, and line clearance applications. The truck includes a vehicle chassis supporting a plurality of wheels. A boom is supported by the vehicle chassis. This boom has an attachment end attached to the vehicle chassis at an attachment joint and a tool-supporting end rotatable and extendable relative to the attachment joint. A feller buncher tool is attached to the tool-supporting end of the boom.
US09603312B2
Disclosed is a sprayable nonwoven fiber weed barrier comprising an aqueous solution of nonwoven fibers and polymer binder. The aqueous solution can be directly sprayed onto the soil to suppress weed penetration through the soil. The sprayable nonwoven fiber weed barrier has a pore structure that allows water to penetrate into the soil, but curbs the growth of weeds.
US09603308B2
A crop harvesting system for continuous round baling is described that with a first and second bale chamber and a conveyor system in operable communication with the first and second bale chambers. The crop harvesting system can have at least three bale carriers, at least two serpentine systems to facilitate movement of the bale into and out of the first and second bale chambers. The crop harvesting system can be integrated into an agricultural harvester such as a baler or combine.
US09603302B2
An agricultural working machine has at least one working unit and a display device for displaying or adjusting parameters of the working machine the at least one working unit of both. The display device has a display unit with jointly depictable display elements for visualization of parameter-based values, the display elements preferably arranged concentrically in a form of circular-ring sections. The display device also includes at least one bar display that at least partially encircles the display elements radially on the outer side. Indicator element for displaying a defined value are disposed on the at least one bar display.
US09609793B2
A electromagnetic shielding film includes a conductive supporting substrate which includes a cured material of a thermosetting resin including a conductive filler; a metal thin film layer which covers one surface of the conductive supporting substrate; a thermosetting adhesive layer which covers a surface of the metal thin film layer; and a peeling substrate which covers the other surface of the conductive supporting substrate.
US09609783B2
A rack mount device includes: a support rail which is provided in a rack and which extends in a front-rear direction of the rack; an electronic device which is housed in the rack along the support rail and which is supported by the support rail; an upper support portion which is provided in the rack and which is arranged at a position higher than the support rail; and a holding member which extends obliquely downward from the upper support portion to a side to which the electronic device is drawn out and which holds the electronic device outside of the rack in a state in which the electronic device has been drawn out from the rack along the support rail.
US09609779B1
Apparatus and methods are provided for securing a component such as a printed circuit board in a device at a single edge of the component, thereby facilitating removal and replacement, increasing unobstructed access for attachments and cabling, and improving potential density capacity of the components within a device.
US09609776B2
A visual display includes a plurality of display panels. Each of the display panels is secured to a common support device and independently movable relative to an axis associated with the common support device. The display panels are positionable in a first position.
US09609763B2
The present invention refers to a housing with a locking structure to connect a first housing part (12) with a second housing part (14). The locking structure comprises a flexible snap member (38) extending from the first housing part over an inner wall portion of the second housing part and is provided with a first engaging portion (44). The inner wall portion of the second housing part is provided with a second engaging portion (60). The first and second engaging portions forming a snap fit connection to be released by lifting said snap member from the inner wall portion. A release tool (70) is arranged on or above the bottom of said second housing part to be slidable towards the snap member. The snap member is further provided with a receiving portion being formed to catch the tip (76) of said release tool in a locked manner when the release tool is pushed into the receiving portion.
US09609760B2
An electronic component mounting method including the steps of: providing a first electronic component having a principal surface provided with a plurality of bumps; providing a substrate having a placement area provided with a plurality of first electrodes corresponding to the plurality of bumps; applying flux to the plurality of bumps; applying flux to at least one of the first electrodes adjacent to at least one reinforcement position set on a peripheral portion of the placement area; dispensing a thermosetting resin onto the reinforcement position, and at least partially coating the first electrode adjacent to the reinforcement position, with the thermosetting resin; placing the first electronic component on the substrate such that the bumps land on the corresponding first electrodes, and thus bringing the thermosetting resin into contact with a peripheral edge portion of the first electronic component; and heating the substrate with the first electronic component placed thereon.
US09609746B1
A circuit board structure includes an inner circuit structure and a first build-up circuit structure. The inner circuit structure includes a core layer having an upper surface and a lower surface, a first patterned circuit layer disposed on the upper surface, a second patterned circuit layer disposed on the lower surface and a conductive through hole connecting the first and the second patterned circuit layers. The first build-up circuit structure at least has a cavity and an inner dielectric layer. The inner dielectric layer has an opening connecting the cavity and exposing a portion of the first patterned circuit layer. A hole diameter of the opening is smaller than a hole diameter of cavity. A height difference is between an inner surface of the inner dielectric layer exposed by the cavity and a top surface of the first patterned circuit layer exposed by the opening.
US09609743B2
There are provided an electronic device mounting substrate and an electronic apparatus which are capable of miniaturization. An electronic device mounting substrate includes: an insulating base including a frame section; an electrode pad disposed on an upper surface of the frame section; and a first conductor disposed on a side surface of the frame section, the first conductor being electrically connected to the electrode pad, the electrode pad extending over a side surface of the first conductor from the upper surface of the frame section. By suppressing separation of the first conductor from the insulating base by means of the electrode pad, disconnection at the first conductor can be suppressed.
US09609742B2
Package substrates are provided. The package substrate may include a power line and a ground line on a first surface of a substrate body; a plurality of signal lines on the first surface between the power line and the ground line; and a lower ground pattern and a lower power pattern positioned on a second surface of the substrate body opposite to the first surface. The lower ground pattern may be disposed to be opposite to the power line and the lower power pattern may be disposed to be opposite to the ground line. Related semiconductor packages are also provided.
US09609739B2
According to one embodiment, an electronic device according to an embodiment includes, for example, a board, a first electronic component, and a heat dissipation member. The board includes a first face. The heat dissipation member is disposed at a side opposite to the first face of the first electronic component. The heat dissipation member is thermally connected to the first electronic component. The heat dissipation member includes a first extending portion, a second extending portion, and a plurality of third extending portions. The first extending portion extends along the first face. The second extending portion is positioned away, in a direction that intersects the first face, from the first extending portion by a space. The second extending portion extends along the first face. The plurality of the third extending portions are connected to the first extending portion and the second extending portion. The plurality of the third extending portions are positioned away from each other by a space.
US09609731B2
Systems and methods for synchronous operation of debris-mitigation devices (DMDs) in an EUV radiation source that emits EUV radiation and debris particles are disclosed. The methods include establishing a select relative angular orientation between the first and second DMDs that provides a maximum amount of transmission of EUV radiation between respective first and second rotatable vanes of the first and second DMDs. The methods also include rotating the first and second sets of vanes to capture at least some of the debris particles while substantially maintaining the select relative angular orientation. The systems employ DMD drive units, and an optical-based encoder disc in one of the DMD drive units measures and controls the rotational speed of the rotatable DMD vanes. Systems and methods for optimally aligning the DMDs are also disclosed.
US09609728B2
A lighting system according to the embodiment includes a lighting device; and a graphic user interface displayed on a touch screen of a lighting control device to control the lighting device. The graphic user interface includes a first region to display a map for an installation space of the lighting device and a lighting icon corresponding to the lighting device in the map; and a second region to display a menu for setting a control condition of the lighting device corresponding to the lighting icon. The map includes a plurality of division spaces obtained by dividing the installation space into a plurality of regions and the lighting icon is displayed in a specific division space corresponding to an actual installation portion of the lighting device.
US09609727B2
A lighting device is provided, which may include a power converting module, a lighting module, a wireless receiving module and a wired receiving module. The power converting module may be coupled to the lighting module, the wireless receiving module and the wired receiving module. The wireless receiving module may receive a second control signal transmitted from a wireless control module by a wireless transmission technology, and convert the second control signal into a second converted control signal. The wired receiving module may receive a first control signal transmitted from a wired control module, and convert the first control signal into a first converted control signal. The power converting module may drive the lighting module and the wireless receiving module, and may adjust the luminous status of the lighting module according to the first and second converted control signals.
US09609712B2
The present disclosure provides a signal generating method and a circuit for controlling dimming of an LED. The method comprises generating a first pulse signal, the first pulse signal comprising information of P bits gray levels, P being an integer, wherein the minimum pulse-width of the first pulse is N, N is an integer; generating a second pulse signal after the first pulse signal, the second pulse signal comprising information of Q bits gray levels, Q being an integer, wherein the amplitude of the second pulse signal is different from the amplitude of the first pulse signal, the minimum pulse-width of the second pulse is the same as the minimum pulse-width of the first pulse; and utilizing the first pulse signal and the second pulse signal to represent gray levels information of the LED.
US09609705B2
A switching control circuit includes a switching trigger unit that receives a sensing voltage, which senses a driving current that includes a first and second driving current sections, and that provides a first switching trigger signal based on the sensing voltage in the second current section, an off-time control unit configured to provide a second switching trigger signal in the first driving current section to control a maximum off-time of a driving switching element and a switching control unit configured to turn on the driving switching element based on the first or second switching trigger signal.
US09609701B2
A bipolar junction transistor (BJT) may be used in a power stage DC-to-DC converter, such as a converter in LED-based light bulbs. The power stage may be operated by a controller to maintain a desired current output to the LED load. The controller may operate the power stage by monitoring a start and end of a reverse recovery time of the BJT. Information regarding the start and end of the reverse recovery time may be used in the control of the power stage to improve efficiency of the power stage.
US09609691B2
An RRH includes a power supply device, an AISG interface, a PA, and a control unit. The PA is operated by a power source with a first voltage or a second voltage that is lower than the first voltage and amplifies a transmission signal. The AISG interface is connected to an antenna control device operated by the power source with the second voltage. The power supply device supplies the power source to the PA and the power source to the antenna control device to the AISG interface. When the antenna control device is operated, the control unit controls such that the power supply device generates the power source with the second voltage, supplies the generated power source to the PA and the antenna control device, and increase power of the transmission signal output from the PA that is operated by the power source with the second voltage.
US09609675B2
Provided are a method and an apparatus for monitoring a control channel in a sub-frame including a plurality of orthogonal frequency division multiplexings (OFDMs) in a time division duplex (TDD)-based wireless communication system. A wireless device monitors a downlink control channel in at least one OFDM symbol after an OFDM symbol receives a primary synchronization signal (PSS) in the sub-frame.
US09609671B2
A data transmission method receiving a group identifier, a configuration information window length, and an offset between a start point of the configuration information window length and a paging occasion that are sent by a mobility management entity; establishing a public data radio bearer to a terminal corresponding to the group identifier; scrambling configuration information of the public data radio bearer by using a radio network temporary identifier; sending a paging message carrying the group identifier and the radio network temporary identifier to the terminal; sending the scrambled configuration information of the public data radio bearer to the terminal in the configuration information window length; and receiving uplink data transmitted by the terminal on the public data radio bearer.
US09609654B1
A cellular communication system is described where beam steering techniques are applied to fixed and mobile communication devices to increase system capacity, with capacity optimized for downlink or uplink performance. A previously described technique wherein the current mode on a single radiator is altered to vary the radiation pattern of the radiator is utilized in an FDD cellular system to generate multiple radiation patterns with low correlation between the patterns. Techniques to restrict or expand the frequency bandwidth of the beam steering technique are described to provide the capability to beam steer at receive frequencies or transmit frequencies only, and techniques are described where beam steering can occur at both transmit and receive frequency bands from a single active antenna system. The capacity per cell in the cellular system can be improved for either downlink or uplink by commanding the fixed or mobile devices to optimize correlation between radiation modes for the downlink or uplink frequencies.
US09609647B2
In the present invention, a demodulation reference signal is transmitted using a plurality of settings in which demodulation reference signals occupy different positions in at least a density or time-frequency resource region of the demodulation reference signals. A base station can transmit, to the user device, information indicating a setting related to a downlink signal or a setting related to an uplink signal from among the plurality of settings, and the user device can receive the demodulation reference signal with the downlink signal or transmit the demodulation reference signal With the uplink signal according to the indicated setting.
US09609641B2
In order to minimize deterioration in the reception accuracy even when downlink signals are transmitted from transmission points to a user terminal, a radio communication method for multiple radio base stations and a user terminal capable of communicating with the radio base stations is provided. The method involves transmitting downlink control information, a UE-specific reference signal and a channel state measurement reference signal to the user terminal, transmitting information about configuration of the channel state measurement reference signal, transmitting association information in which the configuration of the channel state measurement reference signal is associated with an information element contained in the downlink control information, determining a channel state measurement reference signal that is associated with a received UE-specific reference signal based on the association information, and performing reception processing, assuming that the UE-specific reference signal and the channel state measurement reference signal are transmitted from a same radio base station.
US09609639B2
The present invention relates to a method to receive an enhanced physical downlink control channel (EPDCCH) in a wireless communication system. More particularly, the method includes monitoring at least one EPDCCH candidate consisting of one or more enhanced control channel elements (ECCEs) in resource blocks and receiving the EPDCCH, wherein the number of ECCEs forming each of the one or more EPDCCH candidates corresponds to an aggregation level, the number of the EPDCCH candidates is set based on the number of ECCEs for each resource block and the number of resource blocks, and, when the number of resource blocks is a first value and the number of ECCEs for each resource block is a second value, the number of EPDCCH candidates in a specific aggregation level is set as a value obtained by dividing the total number of ECCEs by the specific aggregation level.
US09609637B2
The embodiments herein relate to a method in a network node (301) for handling scheduling of a wireless device (305) in a communications network (300). The network node (301) is adapted to communicate wirelessly with the wireless device (305) over a radio channel (310). The network node (301) determines that a data transmission or data reception corresponding to a multi-TTI scheduling message previously transmitted to the wireless device (305) should be at least one of adjusted, interrupted and terminated. The network node (301) transmits, to the wireless device (305), information indicating that the data transmission or data reception corresponding to a previously transmitted multi-Transmission Time Interval, TTI, scheduling message should be at least one of adjusted, interrupted and terminated as determined.
US09609627B2
Disclosed is a radio communication system in which transmission parameters, such as MCS of MBSFN, the number of subframes, and a transmission power of a reserved cell, are adaptively output, based on a unicast traffic volume in a MBSFN area, a number of terminals, and a number of cells of the MBSFN area, so that a system throughput in the MBSFN area is maximized while satisfying an MBSFN quality requirement condition.
US09609610B2
In some embodiments, a system comprises a clock, a root node, a radio channel network, and first and second child nodes. The clock may be configured to generate a clock signal. The root node may be configured to generate a first frame including a first payload and a first overhead and generate a second frame including a second payload and a second overhead. The first and second overheads may comprise a synchronization value based on the clock signal. The radio channel network may be in communication with the root node for transmitting the first and second frames. Each first and second child nodes may be configured to perform clock recovery including frequency synchronization using the synchronization value and a respective phase-lock loop.
US09609603B2
A management server in a network including a first transmitting device that communicates with a first receiving device and a second transmitting device that communicates with a second receiving device. The management server includes a network interface that receives a parameter corresponding to a level of improvement of communication quality at the second receiving device, and a processor that calculates an allowable interference amount at the first receiving device based on the parameter.
US09609598B2
A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for wireless communication are provided. The apparatus configured to establish a wireless connection to a first network, tune away from the first network for a first predetermined interval, tune back to the first network after the first predetermined interval, enter a power control freeze state for a second predetermined interval after tuning back to the first network, send a plurality of transmissions to the first network during the second predetermined interval, determine if a number of the plurality of transmissions that are not received by the first network exceeds a first threshold or if a number of the plurality of transmissions that are retransmitted to the first network exceeds a second threshold, and exit the power control freeze state when it is determined that the first threshold is exceeded or when it is determined that the second threshold is exceeded.
US09609594B2
A method includes determining, by a first node in a communication network, a listening schedule to be used by the first node. The listening schedule is based at least in part on a battery life of the first node. The method also includes transmitting, by the first node, the listening schedule to a second node in the communication network such that the second node is able to communicate with the first node in accordance with the listening schedule.
US09609586B2
A method for controlling access to a network includes, with a client device, sending a request over a network to a server to determine a public logical address for the client device, determining, using the public logical address, whether the client device is connected to the network through one of a number of approved network service providers, and disconnecting from the network if the client device is not connected to the network through one of the approved network service providers.
US09609577B1
Techniques for providing friction-free transactions using geolocation and user identifiers are described herein. These techniques may ascertain a user's location based on a location of a mobile device. A transaction between the user and a merchant may be completed with zero or minimal input from the user based on the geolocation of the mobile device and the user identifiers. In some implementations, a transaction initiated earlier is completed when the mobile device arrives at the merchant. Additionally, a parent-child or similar relationship may be established between multiple devices. Security on the mobile device based may be provided by biometric identification and calculation of variance from regular movement patterns. Advertisements may be sent to the mobile device based on bids from merchants near to the mobile device. Promotions may be sent to the mobile device when more than a threshold number of mobile devices are located at the same merchant.
US09609574B2
Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a first software defined network element is created in local communication with a gateway of a core network portion of a mobility network. Establishment of first logical network connection facilitated between the first software defined network element and a second network element in local communication with a remotely accessible system, such as a back-end system of an enterprise data center or cloud service provider. A request from a mobile device serviced by the mobility network is received for access to a service of the remotely accessible system. The request and/or a translation of the request is forwarded to the second network element by way of the first logical network connection. The second network element forwards the translated request to the remotely accessible system. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US09609571B2
Methods, devices, and computer program products for transmitting and receiving discovery and paging messages in a wireless communication device are described herein. In one aspect, a wireless apparatus operable in a wireless communication system comprises a transmitter configured to transmit a medium access control change request message to an access terminal to initiate a change in a medium access control address of the wireless apparatus and a receiver configured to receive a medium access control change response message from the access terminal. The wireless apparatus further comprises a processor configured to change the medium access control address of the wireless apparatus in response to receiving the medium access control change response, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit a medium access control change confirm message to the access terminal.
US09609569B2
In one embodiment, a method comprises: establishing a first broadband data link between a first mobile narrowbeam transceiver positioned on a vehicle and a first fixed narrowbeam transceiver mounted along a prescribed path of the vehicle; and switching from the first broadband data link, by the first mobile narrowbeam transceiver, to a second broadband data link with a second fixed narrowbeam transceiver mounted along the prescribed path after the first fixed narrowbeam transceiver, enabling the vehicle to maintain continuous broadband access to a wide area network via a prescribed sequence of the fixed narrowbeam transceivers along the prescribed path.
US09609568B1
In some implementations, a base station may determine a bandwidth associated with a backhaul connecting the base station to a network. The base station may select a band in an unlicensed spectrum based at least partly on a scan of at least a portion of the unlicensed spectrum. The base station may select an operating channel in the band based at least partly on a characteristic of the operating channel and the bandwidth associated with the backhaul. After selecting the operating channel, the base station may, based on one or more conditions, re-scan the band and select a new operating channel based at least partly on a characteristic of the new operating channel.
US09609567B2
A method and a user equipment (UE) for routing a data packet in a wireless communication network are discussed. The method according to an embodiment includes establishing, by the UE, a packet data network (PDN) connection via a 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) cellular network; obtaining, by the UE from an Access Network Discovery and Selection Function (ANDSF) server, a routing rule including information on an access point name (APN) and a priority of the APN, the APN identifying a packet data network (PDN) connection; and performing, by the UE, an offload function by selecting a gateway via the 3GPP cellar network based on the priority of the APN. The routing rule comprises identification information in the form of an IP 5-tuple allowing the UE to route the data packet.
US09609560B2
A cyber-foraging network system which automatically and intelligently detects, selects, and connects to a wireless networking access point utilizing data obtained from its own environmental observations as well as from a robust wireless networking context aggregation/interpolation service.
US09609559B2
An idle mode UE can RACH to a cell different from the cell paging the UE. The UE can be allocated additional time to respond to all cells in the neighborhood to identify the cell in which to RACH. Interference cancellation can occur at different rates based on whether the UE is in connected mode or idle mode. The time to respond to the page can be a function of a paging cycle. Additionally, a variable bias may promote early handoff to lower power cells and late handoff to high power cells.
US09609554B2
A first method (and related first apparatus) includes transmitting, in a handover request message, an indication of a first protocol version; a second method (and related second apparatus) includes receiving, in the handover request message, the indication, deciding, based on the received indication and a second protocol version, on a value of an information element included in a handover request acknowledgement message to be transmitted, the information element indicating usage of a first or second signaling scheme, and transmitting the handover request acknowledgement message including the information element; and in the first method receiving the handover request acknowledgement message including the information element; and a third method (and related third apparatus) including receiving the handover command message including the information element, and configuring according to one of the first and second signaling schemes indicated by the information element.
US09609550B1
A process for managing satellite bandwidth available to a moving vessel includes configuring a satellite to associate the vessel with a group of multiple vessels; configuring the satellite to guarantee a committed information rate (CIR) bandwidth to the vessel and to associate a maximum information rate (MIR) with the vessel, and to combine the CIR of the vessel into a CIR bandwidth pool for the group of vessels, and to combine the MIR of the vessel into a MIR bandwidth pool for the group of vessels, and to provide the vessel with a priority burst rate up to the combined CIR bandwidth of the group of vessels, and to provide the vessel with a burst rate up to the combined MIR bandwidth of the group of vessels, conditional on availability of bandwidth beyond the combined CIR bandwidth of the group of vessels; and re-configuring the satellite to release the guarantee of CIR bandwidth for the vessel upon the vessel gaining access to a terrestrial network connection of higher speed than the satellite connection.
US09609549B2
A network device includes a communication interface. A processing system is coupled to the communication interface. A memory system is coupled to the processing system and includes instructions that, when executed by the processing system, cause the processing system to receive first traffic though the communication interface and forward the first traffic downstream though the communication interface using a first path. The memory system also includes instructions that, when executed by the processing system, cause the processing system receive a congestion notification from a downstream network device through the communication interface and determine whether the congestion notification is associated with the first traffic. In response to the first traffic being associated with the congestion notification, the processor determines whether a second path exists for forwarding subsequent traffic that is associated with the congestion notification downstream though the communication interface.
US09609548B2
A method and apparatus are used to create RLC PDUs in advance of the E-TFC selection for the MAC PDU that will include this or these RLC PDU(s). The apparatus may be configured to pre-generate RLC PDUs for transmission in a later TTI. This approach avoids the large peak processing requirement due to the tight delay constraint if any RLC PDU to be included into a MAC PDU had to be created after the determination of the size of this MAC PDU, i.e. after E-TFC selection. The method and apparatus maintain an approximate match between the size of an RLC PDU and the size of the MAC PDU it is included into. Maintaining this approximate match ensures that the RLC PDU error rate due to HARQ residual errors remains low. This approach may be designed as “semi-radio aware” or “radio-aware with delay”.
US09609544B2
A system comprising a processor of a communications device configured to monitor a network service usage activity of the communications device in network communication, classify the network service usage activity for differential network access control for protecting network capacity, and associate the network service usage activity with a network service usage control policy based on a classification of the network service usage activity to facilitate differential network access control for protecting network capacity; and a memory coupled to the processor and configured to provide the processor with instructions.
US09609543B1
In systems and methods of determining a transmission order of packets in a wireless communication network, one method includes determining an efficiency of time frequency frame allocations performed by a network node over a predetermined period of time. The method also includes determining when the efficiency of the time frequency frame allocations is below a threshold. The method further includes rearranging two or more time frequency frames in one or more time transmission intervals when the efficiency of the time frequency frame allocations is determined to be below the threshold.
US09609535B2
A method and apparatus for testing a radio frequency index of an active antenna system are provided. In the method, a tested active antenna system is placed in a test cover for performing radio frequency index testing, wherein, the test cover includes an antenna array part and a passive network part, and the antenna array part and the antenna feeder part of the tested active antenna system are the same. The method for testing includes: monomer calibration of the test cover; near-field coupling calibration; and radio frequency index testing. With the above-mentioned method and apparatus for testing the radio frequency index of the active antenna system, the radio frequency index of the active antenna system can be directly and effectively measured without need of adding an extra test interface.
US09609527B1
Systems and methods are described for coordinating interference mitigation techniques and beamforming. Information about transmissions made by at least one access node neighboring a first access node is obtained. Further, profile data for a wireless device within a transmission range of the first access node is obtained. The systems and methods contemplate determining that transmissions from the first access node to the wireless device will utilize beamforming, based upon the profile data for the wireless device. The first access node is instructed to schedule wireless transmissions to the wireless device utilizing beamforming, based upon the determination to use beamforming.
US09609525B1
One embodiment provides a system for suggesting placement of beacons within a venue. The system performs operations including receiving a floor plan for a venue, receiving user-specified input identifying a defined area within the floor plan to target, and determining an arrangement of beacons for providing beacon coverage for the defined area. A total number of beacons to include within the defined area is determined. For each beacon, a corresponding location within the defined area to position the beacon at is also determined. The arrangement of beacons is determined based on historical location data for the venue, user-specified preferences for the venue, signal strength of the beacons, and available power levels for the beacons.
US09609524B2
A method includes displaying an image associated with a site at which a wireless network is to be installed or modified. The method also includes identifying positions of multiple wireless devices within the image. Different ones of the wireless devices are configured to support different wireless protocols, and the wireless devices and their positions form at least part of a design of the wireless network. The method further includes displaying, within the image, at least one of: (i) estimated wireless coverage areas of the wireless devices, (ii) estimated wireless connectivity between the wireless devices, and (iii) estimated communication routes between the wireless devices. In addition, the method includes validating the design of the wireless network against one or more network criteria using at least one of the estimated wireless coverage areas, the estimated wireless connectivity, and the estimated communication routes.
US09609520B2
Certain aspects of the present disclosure relate to techniques for supporting television white space (TVWS) communication. In an aspect of the present disclosure, a low-rate TVWS enabler (Mode II wireless communication device) may provide initial enablement for all Mode I devices (e.g., access points and user terminals), as well as it may transmit a contact verification signal (CVS) on a regular basis to keep the Mode I devices enabled for the TVWS communication.
US09609519B2
A method and system for virtualization of access points are disclosed. According to certain embodiments, access points at virtual private networks can act as soft VPN gateways.
US09609500B2
A method of detecting a transmitting device within an obstruction rich environment is disclosed. The method may involve detecting the transmitting device with a wireless transmission detection facility; communicating signal information relating to the detected transmitting device from the wireless transmission detection facility to a central unit; determining the location of the transmitting device; displaying information of the detection and location of the transmitting device through a user interface; and providing an action facility for causing actions related to the detected transmitting device.
US09609495B2
A network device is configured to send information identifying a frequency at which an application, downloaded on a user device, is to send geographic location information to the network device. The network device is configured further to receive personal information associated with a plurality of social networking applications from the application on the user device. The network device is configured further to receive the geographic location information from the application; and send the personal information and the geographic location information to a plurality of social networking servers associated with a plurality of social networking applications.
US09609493B2
This invention relates to a smartphone conferencing system (1), a dial-out and permissions rating engine (DPRE) (17) for use in the system, and a method of handling a smartphone conference call between a smartphone user and a plurality of conference call participants (5). The system and method both incorporate a DPRE (17) which analyzes the conference call establishment requests and determines if a request is valid or if a request is invalid based on call dial-out history. The system and method will obviate many of the delays in establishing a smartphone conference call and will prevent fraud should the users lose their smartphone (3).
US09609490B2
According to an aspect of the present disclosure, an access point sends timing information related to updating of a group key. A wireless station communicates with the access point according to the timing information to receive an updated group key. The updated group key is thereafter used for processing of multicast packets. Due to the use of the timing information, the wireless station can operate in a power-down mode, and yet receive at least the required group keys. In one embodiment, the timing information specifies a future time instance at which the update group may be available. In an alternative embodiment, a version number is associated with each value of the group key and the version number of the currently operative group key (in the access point) is broadcast to the wireless stations.
US09609476B2
A wireless device including: an antenna wirelessly coupled to a terminal, a network interface coupled to a baseband unit (BBU) that perform baseband processing, and a processor configured to: convert a wireless signal received from the terminal into a baseband signal to be transmitted to the BBU, convert a baseband signal received from the BBU into a wireless signal to be transmitted to the terminal, and determine, when failure occurs in the wireless device, whether the wireless device takes a measure against the failure or not based on a first index indicating a level of the failure and a second index relating to the number of users that are affected by the failure.
US09609474B2
A capability for controlling or facilitating the use of a wireless tag to communicate location tracking information is presented. The capability for controlling or facilitating use of a wireless tag to communicate location tracking information utilizes a wireless tag supporting multiple states in order to control communication of location tracking information. The wireless tag supporting multiple states in order to control communication of location tracking information may be configured to support or facilitate tag-controlled state transitions, gateway-controlled state transitions, infrastructure-controlled state transitions, or the like, as well as various combinations thereof. The multiple states of the wireless tag may specify use of different sets of wireless gateways for communication of location tracking information, use of different protocols for communication of location tracking information, use of different air interfaces for communication of location tracking information, use of different performance parameters for communication of location tracking information, or the like.
US09609472B2
Various embodiments relate generally to electrical and electronic hardware, computer software, wired and wireless network communications, and wearable computing devices for identifying activities and/or destinations of relative importance. More specifically, a system, a device and a method are provided to determine interactions at a mobile computing device predict activities based on one or more types of interactions. Examples of activities include preferential activities available at a geographic region association with lodging In one or more embodiments, a method can include receiving data representing an interaction with a user interface, generating data summarizing the interaction to include an interaction type, and determining data representing a prioritized value indicative of a degree of the interaction. The method also may include predicting participation in an activity as a function of the prioritized value, and generating customized advisory data based on prioritized values of one or more interaction types.
US09609471B2
An approach is provided for determining a first location-based record associated with at least one device (501). Next, the point of interest platform causes, at least in part, a specification of a second location-based record relative to the first location-based record (503). Subsequently, the point of interest platform causes, at least in part, a transmission of the second location-based record to the at least one device (505), wherein transmission of the second location-based record to the at least one device is based, at least in part, on the one or more codes.
US09609469B2
Systems, apparatus and methods for determining a location of a mobile device are presented. Often a mobile device requests assistance data from a location server. If the mobile device expects a significant delayed response in receiving the assistance data, the mobile device may determine a seed location or rough location estimate from a server. The mobile device may also request a map to display and/or a data structure for its estimator. The mobile device may preload the estimator with the rough location estimate and/or the data structure. After preloading, the estimator determines a location of the mobile device. Also, the mobile device may show the map to a user via a display.
US09609468B1
Disclosed herein are techniques and systems for inter-device bearing estimation. Particularly, sensor fusion techniques are disclosed that combine motion data of a local computing device with beamforming data of the local computing device to determine a line-of-site path between the local computing device and a remote computing device. A motion sensor(s) of a local computing device may generate motion data from movement of the local computing device. The local computing device may further determine a direction, relative to the local computing device, of a beampattern in which an antenna(s) of the local computing device radiates energy, the beampattern direction being along a communication path between the local computing device and a remote computing device. The local device may then determine, based at least in part on the motion data and the direction of the beampattern, whether the communication path corresponds to a line-of-sight path between the local and remote devices.
US09609458B2
A mobile radio communication device is described comprising: an instruction receiver configured to receive an instruction from a second mobile radio communication device to request subscriber identity module installation data for installation of a second subscriber identity module, wherein the second subscriber identity module is related to a first subscriber identity module that is installed in the second mobile radio communication device; a request transmitter configured to transmit a request for the subscriber identity module installation data to a first server; a subscription data receiver configured to receive the subscriber identity module installation data from a second server; and a controller configured to install the second subscriber identity module based on the received subscriber identity module installation data.
US09609456B2
Methods, systems and devices for communicating behavior analysis information using an application programming interface (API) may include receiving via the API a request to register the second module to access an operation of a behavioral monitoring system of the mobile computing device, and exchanging authentication information between the first module and the second module to accomplish mutual authentication. Aspects may include receiving via the API a request for version identification information that may be used by the server to determine how to interpret, evaluate, or crowd-source information, and exchanging version identification information between the first module and the second module to cause the second module to send the information to the server. Aspects may further include receiving via the API a provision malware model request including a command causing the first module to send a malware or classifier model to a behavioral monitoring system of the mobile computing device.
US09609450B2
A method of monitoring speaker temperature for speaker protection starts by generating a low level inaudible noise signal and injecting the low level inaudible noise signal in an audio signal. The voice coil resistance estimate that estimates a resistance of a voice coil of a speaker is then computed. The voice coil resistance estimate changes while the speaker is being driven by the audio signal that includes the low level inaudible noise signal. The temperature estimate is then computed based on the voice coil resistance estimate. The level of the audio signal may be adjusted based on the temperature estimate. Other embodiments are also described.
US09609435B2
The present invention provides a portable and compact battery-powered stereo speaker assembly that incorporates a DC to DC converter, which enables power from the internal stereo speaker assembly battery to charge an interconnected hand-held device, such as a smartphone, through a USB connection, thereby extending the time that the device can be used untethered from the AC power grid. A DC to DC converter enables the charging function can be implemented even if the speaker assembly is not connected to the AC power grid, and even if the battery of the stereo speaker assembly is not fully charged. The stereo speaker assembly also incorporates Bluetooth connectivity, a proprietary open wireless technology standard, developed by Ericsson in 1994, employing frequency-hopping spread spectrum radio transmissions in the ISM band from 2400-2480 MHz.(134)
US09609434B2
A driving device for a sound system by loudspeaker signals, wherein the sound system has a wave field synthesis loudspeaker array and one or several supply loudspeakers arranged separate from the wave field synthesis array includes an audio input for receiving at least one audio signal from at least one sound source, a position input for receiving information on a position of the sound source, a wave field synthesis unit for calculating loudspeaker signals for the loudspeakers of the wave field synthesis loudspeaker array, and a provider for providing the loudspeaker signal for the one or the several supply loudspeakers. The driving device enables a sound system by means of which sound localization becomes possible for the audience and at the same time pleasant levels can be achieved also in the first rows of the audience.
US09609432B2
A microphone comprising an automatic bias control providing a better signal quality is proposed. The microphone comprises a bias control circuit that can provide two or more voltages to the microphone's capacitor. The bias control circuit increases the voltage if the collapse frequency is low and decreases the voltage if the collapse frequency is high.
US09609428B2
A method and a device for automatically identifying a microphone pin and a ground pin of an audio interface and an electronic signature token are provided. The method comprises: not implementing an identification operation on the first pin and the second pin of the audio interface when an absolute value of a voltage difference between the first pin and the second pin is less than a first threshold; and determining a type of each of the first pin and the second pin according to a sign of the voltage difference between the first pin and the second pin when the absolute value of the voltage difference is greater than or equal to a second threshold, in which the second threshold is greater than or equal to the first threshold.
US09609424B2
An electronic audio device for use with at least one earpiece or a pair of earpieces, or a pair of earpieces in a headphone, each earpiece having a microphone and a speaker located therein, including circuitry operatively coupled to the microphone and speaker, and a processor operatively coupled to evaluate a seal quality of the earpiece to a user's ear based on seal quality measurements made while driving or exciting a signal into the speaker located in the earpiece and where the processor is configure to generate a visual or audio message identifying whether at least one earpiece is properly sealed based on the seal quality measurements.
US09609419B2
Various systems and methods for providing contextual information to a user while the user is wearing headphones are described herein. A system for providing contextual information while wearing headphones comprises an event detector module to detect an event external and proximate to a user device, the user device communicatively coupled to headphones worn by a user, the headphones producing sound at a first volume; a notification decision module to determine whether to notify the user of the event; and a notification module to notify the user of the event based on the determination.
US09609412B2
Disclosed herein are methods and apparatuses for the transmission of audio information from a bone-conduction headset to a user. The bone-conduction headset may be mounted on a glasses-style support structure. The bone-conduction transducer may be mounted near where the glasses-style support structure approach a wearer's ears. In one embodiment, an apparatus has a bone-conduction transducer with a diaphragm configured to vibrate based on a magnetic field. The magnetic field being based off an applied electric field. The apparatus may also have an anvil coupled to the diaphragm. The anvil may be configured to conduct the vibration from the bone-conduction transducer. Additionally, the anvil may be coupled to a metallic component. The metallic component may be configured to couple to a magnetic field created by the bone-conduction transducer.
US09609410B2
A processing circuit for a digital sensor, including: a control stage, which generates a control signal; a multiplexing stage, which may be electrically coupled to a plurality of sensing structures for receiving corresponding detection signals and generates a multiplexed signal, on the basis of one between the detection signals, as a function of the control signal; an analog-to-digital conversion stage, which is connected to the multiplexing stage and generates an encoded signal on the basis of the multiplexed signal; and an equalizer, which multiplies the encoded signal by a coefficient that depends upon the control signal.
US09609407B2
An audio equipped fan is disclosed having a housing defining an inner cavity, a motor disposed at least partially in the inner cavity of the housing and having an output shaft extending therefrom that is rotatable by the motor, a fan connected to the output shaft of the motor and rotatable therewith, a grille connected to the housing and positioned in alignment with the fan, the grille having an interior side and an exterior side and defining first openings through which air may flow while the fan is rotated and second openings through which sound may travel, and having a speaker connected to at least one of the housing, motor, fan and grille and aligned on the interior side of the grille with the second openings of the grille so that sound may travel from the speaker through the grille. Related methods are also disclosed.
US09609402B2
Optical networks may store information or data therein by maintaining the information or data in motion. The optical networks may include optical fiber rings configured to receive optical signals comprising the information or data and to circulate the optical signals within the optical fiber rings. The optical signals and the information or data may be transferred out of the optical fiber rings in order to amplify the optical signals (e.g., to overcome losses due to attenuation within the optical fiber rings), to analyze the optical signals according to one or more processing techniques, or to transfer the information or data to another computer device upon request. If continued storage of the information or data is required, an optical signal including the information or data may be transferred back into the optical fiber rings and may continue to circulate therein.
US09609397B1
Various mechanisms presented in this disclosure provide for dynamically adjusting the exhibition of subtitles. In one example, check-points are introduced into the subtitle file format that, once achieved by a multimedia player, provoke the rescheduling of the moment in which the texts contained in the subtitle file will be exhibited.
US09609386B2
Various embodiments disclose a system and methods for media content analysis based at least in part upon social media data. In some embodiments, a computer system may identify social media messages corresponding to televised content. For example, following the uploading of a television show (or advertisement) to an Internet website, or transmission across a television network, viewers and non-viewers of the show may begin commenting upon the show. The system may correlate the number of viewers of the show with the social media messages to generate one or more metrics describing relations between the show's viewership and the show's social media effects.
US09609384B2
In one aspect, a system for detecting and classifying direct response advertisements includes an advertisement candidate segment generation unit for generating an advertisement candidate segment for an advertisement section detected from a broadcast stream, a matching unit for determining whether the advertisement candidate segment matches an advertisement segment stored in an advertisement database (DB), a direct response advertisement determination unit for determining whether the advertisement candidate segment is a direct response advertisement if it is determined by the matching unit that an advertisement segment matching the advertisement candidate segment is not present, and a direct response advertisement grouping unit for grouping the advertisement candidate segment with advertisement segments that are direct response advertisements stored in the advertisement DB.
US09609380B2
The application is directed to a video monitoring user interface that includes a first region for displaying a live or recorded video feed from a video camera and a second region for displaying an event timeline. The event timeline includes equally spaced time indicators each indicating a specific time, and a moveable current video feed indicator indicating the temporal position of the video feed displayed in the first region. The temporal position includes a past time corresponding to the previously recorded video feed and a current time corresponding to the live video feed. The event timeline is displayed with event indicators corresponding to different types of events previously detected during a period of time associated with the event timeline. When a new event is detected, a new event indicator is displayed on the event timeline with the graphic display characteristic corresponding to the event type of the new event.
US09609374B2
Systems and methods for automatically obtaining cost-efficient access to a media content collection are provided. A user selection of a media content collection, which consists of a number of media assets, is received. A first price is determined for receiving access to the entire media content collection using a single transaction. For each media asset of the media content collection a set of providers of the media asset are identified, and the lowest price for receiving access to each media asset is determined. The lowest price for receiving access to each media asset of the media content collection is accumulated to determine a second price for receiving access to the media content collection using multiple transactions. The first and the second price are compared, and access to the media content collection is received based on this comparison.
US09609370B2
A video server or other processing device obtains availability information for a wireless network and modifies a manner in which video segments of a video service are delivered to a user device over the wireless network based on the obtained availability information. The availability information may comprise at least one of network congestion measurement information and transmission pricing information. In an illustrative embodiment, the processing device comprises a video server configured to utilize the availability information to generate a list of video segments available for transmission for at least a portion of the video service, to provide the list of video segments to the user device responsive to a request received from the user device, to receive an additional request from the user device for at least one particular video segment identified in the list, and to provide the requested at least one video segment to the user device.
US09609365B2
In at least one example embodiment, a system may include a television device configured to: transmit a request to execute an application; and a server configured to: execute the application that uses at least one function of the television device to generate an image; transmit the generated image to the television device; and transmit a request to execute the at least one function of the television device, and wherein the television device is further configured to: execute the requested function of the television device and transmit a result of the execution to the server.
US09609362B2
QP control information valid for a block of samples is parsed. A QP to use for the block of samples is derived according to a first QP derivation process independent on the QP control information if residual data of the block of samples is not color transformed and according to a second QP derivation process dependent on the QP control information if the residual data of the block of samples is color transformed. The embodiments thereby decouple QP parameters for blocks of samples that are coded with color transform and those that are coded without color transform. This decoupling achieves better flexibility during encoding and results in better visual quality.
US09609355B2
An image processing apparatus that is capable of improving image stabilization performance by improving motion vector search performance by restricting a search range even for an image with a large motion due to a camera shake of an image pickup apparatus at a tele-end side of a zoom lens or a shoot while walking at a wide-end side. A motion vector search unit searches for a motion vector of a reference image later input from an image pickup device with respect to a standard image input previously. A control unit sets at least one of a search range and a search position of a motion vector searched by the motion vector search unit based on position-posture change information about the image pickup apparatus detected by a detection unit and image stabilization control information obtained from an image stabilizing unit.
US09609353B2
Provided is an apparatus for encoding a moving picture. When the current block is coded in intra prediction and a size of the transform block is larger than 4×4, the quantized transform coefficients of the quantized transform block are divided into a plurality of sub-blocks. The plurality of sub-blocks are scanned according to a first scan pattern determined by the intra prediction mode of the current block and the quantized transform coefficients of each sub-block are scanned according to a second scan pattern determined by the intra prediction mode of the current block. The first scan pattern for scanning the plurality of sub-blocks is the same as the second scan pattern for scanning the quantized transform coefficients of each sub-block.
US09609352B2
Provided is an apparatus for encoding a moving picture. When the current block is coded in intra prediction and a size of the transform block is larger than 4×4, the quantized transform coefficients of the quantized transform block are divided into a plurality of sub-blocks. The plurality of sub-blocks are scanned according to a first scan pattern determined by the intra prediction mode of the current block and the quantized transform coefficients of each sub-block are scanned according to a second scan pattern determined by the intra prediction mode of the current block. The first scan pattern for scanning the plurality of sub-blocks is the same as the second scan pattern for scanning the quantized transform coefficients of each sub-block.
US09609351B2
Provided is an apparatus for decoding a moving picture. When the current block is coded in intra prediction and a size of the transform block is larger than a predetermined size, a plurality of sub-blocks are restored by applying a first scan pattern determined according to the intra prediction mode of the current block on the quantization coefficient sequence, and the quantized transform block is restored by applying a second scan pattern determined according to the intra prediction mode of the current block on the plurality of sub-blocks. The first scan pattern for restoring the plurality of sub-blocks from the quantization coefficient sequence is the same as the second scan pattern for restoring the quantized transform block from the plurality of sub-blocks.
US09609336B2
Embodiments of the invention receive videos and feedback data associated with the videos from a client device and adaptively encode the videos based on the feedback data. The encoded videos are suitable to be transmitted over a network and displayed on the client device. Embodiments of an encoding server adaptively changes resolution of a video on the fly or scale the video quality up or down based on the factors described by the feedback data, including network condition for transmitting the encoded video, network delay, encoder and decoder processing capacity and feedback from viewers of the decoded video. Furthermore, the encoding server adaptively encodes the video based on a combination of various factors described by the feedback data.
US09609334B2
A video encoding apparatus using a tree structure, includes: a splitter to generate a partition flag indicating whether each block, starting from a block corresponding to an uppermost layer of the tree structure, is divided into four blocks of a lower layer; and an encoder to encode, into a bitstream, the partition flag and prediction type information on a block which is not further divided in the tree structure, wherein, when a block of a first layer is divided into four blocks of a second layer which is a lower layer of the first layer, the encoder is configured to encode the partition flag for each of the four blocks of the second layer in a predetermined order.
US09609332B2
A method includes encoding, at a mobile device having a camera, a first portion of a media stream captured by the camera based on an encoding parameter. The method also includes sending the encoded first portion of the media stream from the mobile device to a computing device via a network connection. The method further includes detecting a change in available network bandwidth of the network connection. The method includes automatically adjusting the encoding parameter in response to the change in the available network bandwidth. The method also includes encoding a second portion of the media stream based on the adjusted encoding parameter and sending the encoded second portion of the media stream from the mobile device to the computing device.
US09609327B1
An image decoding apparatus that includes a motion compensation prediction circuit configured to conduct motion compensation prediction for each of blocks to be decoded by using the reconstructed image, an inverse transformation circuit configured to conduct inverse orthogonal transformation for the data of the blocks to be decoded, and a determination circuit configured to determine a filtering strength and whether or not to conduct filtering, with respect to each of the boundaries. In addition, the determining circuit is configured to determine filtering is conducted when at least one of the two adjacent blocks is intra-coded, and filtering is not conducted when both of the two adjacent blocks are not intra-coded, a non-zero transformation coefficient is not coded in both of the two adjacent blocks, the two adjacent blocks are predicted by the same reference frame, and an absolute value of a difference between motion vectors of the two adjacent blocks is smaller than a specified threshold value.
US09609321B2
A receiving apparatus comprises a receiver for receiving a video signal, an output for outputting the video signal to a screen, storage device or further terminal; and a concealment module for applying a concealment algorithm to a lost area of the video signal. The concealment module is configured to determine an estimate of concealment quality selectively directed toward a region of interest within the area in question, and based on this estimate to determine whether or not to apply the concealment algorithm.
US09609309B2
A stereoscopic image output system includes a stereoscopic vision output unit, an image database storage unit, and an output control unit. The stereoscopic vision is realized by outputting, from the stereoscopic vision output unit, a left-eye image and a right-eye image with parallax such that the left and right-eye images are visually recognized by the left and right eyes, respectively. Left-eye parallel projection data and right-eye parallel projection data are generated by parallel projection of a three-dimensional model using respective projection angles set for the left eye and right eye so as to produce the parallax therebetween, and stored in the database storage unit as two-dimensional drawing data. The output control unit controls an output range of the left and right-eye images. If the output range for the stereoscopic image changes, moving directions of the left-eye image and the right-eye image are individually determined by the output control unit.
US09609308B2
There is provided an image processing device including an image acquisition part acquiring an image; a depth acquisition part acquiring a depth associated with a pixel in the image; a depth conversion part converting the depth in accordance with a function having a characteristic to nonlinearly approach a predetermined value with an increase in the depth; and a storage part storing the converted depth in association with the image.
US09609300B2
Method and apparatus for representing storage capacity allocation of an audio/video recording device
A method and apparatus for representing allocation of capacity of a storage unit within an audio/video (AV) recording device is described. In one example, a quantity of AV program data stored on the storage unit is determined. A storage schedule for new AV program data that is defined over a predetermined time period is obtained. A deletion schedule for old AV program data that is defined over the predetermined time period is obtained. Temporally dynamic indicia is produced that is representative of allocation of the capacity of the storage unit over the predetermined time period in response to the quantity of stored AV program data, the storage schedule, and the deletion schedule. A pictorial representation of the temporally dynamic indicia may then be displayed on a display coupled to the AV recording device.
US09609299B2
A time lapse video is created in real-time, without post-production. User configurations are set for a time lapse video recording. A real-time video feed is received into a buffer. Based on a user configuration for frequency, certain frames in the buffer can be discarded prior to generating the video file. The time lapse video is output as a video file according to user configurations.
US09609291B2
To provide an apparatus that generates an RGB pattern data from an image pickup signal by an image pickup element having an RGBW pattern and a method. An edge detection unit analyzes an output signal of the image pickup signal of the RGBW pattern to obtain edge information corresponding to the respective pixels, and a texture detection unit generates texture information. Furthermore, a parameter calculation unit executes an interpolation processing in which an applied pixel position is changed in accordance with an edge direction of a transform target pixel to generate parameters equivalent to an interpolation pixel value. In a blend processing unit, the parameters generated by the parameter calculation unit, the edge information, and the texture information are input, in accordance with the edge information and the texture information corresponding to the transform pixel, a blend ratio of the parameters calculated by the parameter calculation unit is changed, the blend processing is executed, and a transform pixel value is decided.
US09609285B2
An analytical recognition system includes a video camera, an antenna, one or more processors, and one or more memories. The one or more memories store instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to function as a data analytics module and an investigation module. The video camera is configured to capture video data. The antenna is configured to capture mobile communication device data. The data analytics module is configured to correlate the video data and the mobile communication device data, generate a profile of a person associated with the video data and the mobile communication device data, detect a behavior of the person, and store behavioral data in the profile. The investigation module is configured to mine the video data, the mobile communication device data, the profile data, and/or sales data, and generate a report based on the mining.
US09609278B2
A method and system for auxiliary data detection. Data is received on a hand-held device from a display of a signal on a monitor. The signal is visually displayed on the monitor at a frequency. A modulated video signal is received on the hand-held device from a display device. The modulated video signal contains auxiliary data modulated within a video signal in a substantially invisible way. The modulated video signal is demodulated to obtain the auxiliary data. At least one of the data or the auxiliary data is processed to identify a promotional opportunity available through the hand-held device. The user of the hand-held device is notified of availability of the promotional opportunity through the hand-held device.
US09609277B1
A playback system for a video conferencing record includes a first electronic device obtaining a video conferencing record and a second electronic device receiving the video conferencing record. The second electronic device analyzes the video conferencing record into a plurality of chunks based on recognizing each dialog in the video conferencing record, analyzing the topic intensity of each dialog, and analyzes the relevance of each chunk to move it out of a dialog or add it to another. Video clips from the video conferencing record can be retrieved according to a keyword index, and the video clips accordingly displayed on a display. A playback method for such video conferencing record or the parts is also provided.
US09609262B2
Embodiments of the invention describe apparatuses, systems and methods for dynamic projector calibration. Embodiments of the invention execute operations for capturing, via an image sensor included in a projector device, image data of an area around the projector device. Said image sensor captures 3D distance information as well as image pixel information of the surrounding area. A projection area is selected based (in part) on surface properties of the projection area determined from the image data.The projector may be calibrated (e.g., projection brightness, color balance, angle, etc.) based on the captured image data. A user I/O interface is projected onto the selected projection area, and the projector may be further (i.e., dynamically) calibrated based on captured image data of the projected user I/O interface.
US09609258B2
An A/D conversion circuit includes: a reference signal generation section that includes an integrator circuit having a first constant current source and generates a reference signal that changes in accordance with a constant current output by the first constant current source; a comparison section that executes a comparison process between an analog signal and the reference signal and terminates the comparison process; a clock generation section that includes a delay section having delay units for delaying an input signal for a predetermined time and outputting delayed input signals in accordance with a constant current output by a second constant current source, and outputs a lower phase signal based on the signals output from the delay units; a latch section that latches the lower phase signal at a timing related to the termination of the comparison process; and a count section that counts a clock based on the lower phase signal.
US09609257B2
A solid-state imaging device includes: a first substrate; a second substrate; a pixel unit in which pixels are disposed in a matrix; and an A/D conversion unit that is disposed for every columns of the pixels and counts a count clock for only a period according to a magnitude of the pixel signal. The A/D conversion unit includes: counter units that is provided in one of the first substrate and the second substrate and generates n-bit count signals; memory units that is provided in the other of the first substrate and the second substrate and holds the count signals and outputs the held count signals to horizontal signal transfer lines; and a connection unit that connects each counter unit to a corresponding one of the memory units and simultaneously transfer the count signals from at least two counter units to at least two memory units.
US09609256B2
A solid-state image sensor comprises unit pixels, each unit pixel including photodiodes, transfer switches, a floating diffusion portion, and reset means, and an AD converter, wherein the AD converter includes a reference signal generator and a comparator that compares the reference signal and analog signal and vary an output depending on a magnitude relationship, the floating diffusion portion accumulates a first signal obtained by transferring a signal of at least one of the photodiodes, and adds, to the first signal, a second signal obtained by transferring a signal of at least one of the photodiodes, and the AD converter operates in a first AD conversion mode when AD-converting the first signal, and operates in a second AD conversion mode when AD-converting the second signal.
US09609252B2
There is provided an image sensor including a pixel unit, the pixel unit including a photodiode, a first color filter and a second color filter each disposed in a different position on a plane above the photodiode, and a first on-chip lens disposed over the first color filter and a second on-chip lens disposed over the second color filter.
US09609251B2
A drain of a first transistor is formed by performing ion implantation on a semiconductor substrate using a first member as a mask for a gate electrode of the first transistor. Further, ion implantation is performed on the gate electrode of the second transistor after thinning a second member.
US09609243B2
Systems, methods, and apparatuses that may be employed to reduce noise in an electronic circuit are described. Systems are provided that include a circuit, wherein the circuit is configured to provide an active reset technique and an active column sensor readout technique. Methods for reducing circuit noise are also provided. The methods include providing a circuit configured to perform an active reset technique and an active column sensor readout technique. The methods further provide that the active reset technique and the active column sensor readout technique are both performed by the circuit. An imaging apparatus is provided that includes an array of photo-sensitive pixels, wherein each of the pixels can include a circuit configured to provide an active reset technique and an active column sensor readout technique. The active reset technique and the active column sensor readout technique are executable on the circuit.
US09609235B2
A digital camera includes: a RAW data conversion unit that converts pixel values of respective colors of RAW data into values corresponding to predetermined spectral characteristics; and an output image conversion unit that converts the values corresponding to the spectral characteristics converted in the RAW data conversion unit, into predetermined output image data.
US09609230B1
In general, the subject matter can be embodied in methods, systems, and program products for using a display of a computing device as a light source. The computing device receives a first image that was captured by a camera of the computing device, determines a brightness of at least part of the first image, selects an intensity of a light source that is to be presented by the display of the computing device, the intensity of the light source being selected based on the determined brightness of the at least part of the image, presents the light source by the display of the computing device, the presented light source having the selected intensity, and receives a second image that is captured by the camera of the computing device while the computing device is presenting the light source on the display using the selected intensity.
US09609225B2
Provided is an operating method of a flexible display device including a display. The method includes: displaying, at a preview area of the display, a preview image corresponding to an object; expanding the display in an first direction according to detecting the display is expanded in the first direction; and capturing an image of the object when the display is expanded in the first direction.
US09609221B2
An apparatus and method for reducing or preventing image degradation due to shaking of a camera upon image acquisition is provided. The method includes determining illuminance corresponding to a subject, automatically determining a capturing mode of an electronic device based on at least the illuminance, acquiring a first resulting image of the subject based on a first exposure time, if the capturing mode is a first capturing mode, and acquiring a plurality of images of the subject based on a second exposure time, if the capturing mode is a second capturing mode, and generating a second resulting image based on at least two images among the plurality of images.
US09609218B2
In an image-shake correction apparatus, if distortion is generated such that a screen peripheral portion of an image pickup screen of an image pickup element is reduced as compared with a screen center portion of the image pickup screen and if distortion is generated such that the screen center portion is reduced as compared with the screen peripheral portion, image-shake correction effect in the screen center portion is higher than image-shake correction effect in the screen peripheral portion.
US09609217B2
An image-based motion sensor includes a camera system and a processing system. The camera system is arranged for generating an image output including a plurality of captured images. The processing system is arranged for obtaining a motion sensor output by processing the image output, wherein the motion sensor output includes information indicative of at least one of a motion status and an orientation status of the image-based motion sensor. For example, information indicative of the orientation status of the image-based motion sensor may includes roll, pitch, and yaw related motion information, and information indicative of the motion status of the image-based motion sensor may includes speed, acceleration and displacement information.
US09609209B2
Provided is a mobile terminal including a main body, first and second cameras that are arranged on the front and rear sides of the main body, respectively, a sensing unit that senses the extent to which the main body moves when driving the first and second cameras, and a controller that when a panorama photographing mode is selected, drives the first and second cameras at the same time in such a manner that the first and second cameras capture their respective images depending on movement of the main body, and when the extent of the sensed movement of the main body falls out of a reference range, stops photographing and connects first images captured by the first camera and second images captured by the second camera to generate at least one panorama picture. The rotation of the main body within a reference range enables a panorama picture to be generated.
US09609207B2
Capturing conditions and capturing of an imaging apparatus, which captures a plurality of color patches displayed on a monitor, are controlled. Imaging data is inputted from the imaging apparatus. Measurement values of the plurality of color patches are calculated from the imaging data using color conversion characteristics corresponding to the capturing conditions. First capturing conditions used at start of the capturing for the calculation of measurement values based on the imaging data captured by the imaging apparatus using initial capturing conditions. After the capturing for the calculation of measurement values is started, when the imaging data is input, it is determined whether or not perform the capturing by changing the capturing conditions.
US09609203B2
Disclosed is a technique for allowing proper classification information to be provided to an edited image. When it is determined that the editing is cropping, a system controller cuts a decompressed image down to a desired size using an image processor and performs face detection on a crop image. The system controller generates a header for image data of an edited image. When the setting of automatically providing classification information is “ON”, classification information is automatically provided based on the detected face information.
US09609192B2
An image processing apparatus has a plurality of optical systems arranged two-dimensionally and a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements which are two-dimensionally arranged for each of the plurality of optical systems and are used to photoelectrically convert an image from each optical system, and inter-frame prediction encodes a plurality of image frames each having a different parallax, which are formed by the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements.
US09609191B2
An image pickup unit according to the embodiment includes an image pickup device chip having a rectangular shape in plan view, a transparent substrate which is equal in plan view dimensions to the image pickup device chip and is joined to the image pickup device chip, and a lens unit joined to the transparent substrate with the center of a light receiving portion of the image pickup chip aligned with the optical axis, in which, two locking portions are formed in the transparent substrate and two locked portions of the lens unit which is equal to or smaller than the image pickup device chip in plan view dimensions are fitted into or abut on the corresponding locking portions respectively.
US09609189B2
There is provided a camera module including a lens barrel including at least one lens disposed on an optical axis, a housing having the lens barrel disposed therein, and an infrared (IR) filter bonded to an inside of the housing and disposed below the lens barrel, wherein the IR filter has a coating material applied to a portion of one surface thereof so as to block diffusely reflected light.
US09609187B2
A solid-state imaging device includes: pixel signal reading lines; a pixel unit in which pixels including photoelectric conversion elements are arranged; and a pixel signal reading unit performing reading of pixel signals from the pixel unit through the pixel signal reading lines, wherein the pixel signal reading unit includes current source circuits each of which includes a load element as a current source connected to the pixel signal reading line forming a source follower, and the current source circuit includes a circuit generating electric current according to a slew rate of the pixel signal reading line and replicating electric current corresponding to the above electric current to flow in the current source.
US09609174B2
An image processing device includes: a first gradation-process determining unit that determines a type of gradation process for a process-color toner plate in accordance with halftone mode information; a second gradation-process determining unit that determines a type of gradation process for a special toner plate other than a process color in accordance with the type of gradation process determined by the first gradation-process determining unit; and a halftone processing unit that performs halftone processes in accordance with the types of gradation processes that are determined by the first gradation-process determining unit and the second gradation-process determining unit.
US09609165B2
A read image processing apparatus is provided for processing a read image read by line image sensors arranged such that one end parts of which adjacent to each other are overlapped in a sub-scanning direction. The read image processing apparatus includes a density variation detector, a seam processor, and a line image generator. The density variation detector detects whether a density variation occurs for not less than a predetermined number of times or not in each of a plurality of regions in a seam-read image. The seam processor generates a seam image by synthesizing the seam-read images read by the line image sensors adjacent to each other in accordance with a detection result made by the density variation detector. The line image generator generates a read image corresponding to one line based on read images read by the line image sensors and the seam image generated by the seam processor.
US09609158B2
An image forming device having a printer unit, a post-processing unit, and an eject tray. The printer unit forms images on recording sheets, and the post-processing unit performs processing on a recoding sheet stack composed of one or more recording sheets output from the printer unit before the recording sheet stack is ejected onto the eject tray. The image forming device includes: a buffer unit that, while a first recording sheet resides in the post-processing unit for the post-processing, holds a second recording sheet therein, the second recording sheet output from the printer unit subsequent to the first recording sheet; and a reverse path that reverses recording sheets when the image forming device performs duplex printing. In a plan view of the image forming device taken along a vertical direction, the post-processing unit, the buffer unit, and the reverse path at least partially cover one another.
US09609156B2
A function execution method includes a selection step in which the a user is encouraged to select multiple shortcut functions to be executed subsequently from among a registered plurality shortcut functions each of which is configured to be executed with user of a preliminarily setting value necessary for executing the particular function, a continuous execution registration step in which a continuous execution function configured to execute the multiple shortcut functions selected in the selection step such that the multiple functions are executed in accordance with a particular order, a displaying step in which a continuous execution key corresponding to the continuous execution functions registered in the continuous execution registration step, and a continuous execution step in which, when the continuous execution key displayed by the displaying step is selected, the controller executes the multiple shortcut functions constituting the continuous execution function in accordance with the execution order.
US09609139B1
The present invention is related to telecommunications. A call processing system receives a first call from a caller intended for a first person. A notification regarding the first call is transmitted over a network to a terminal associated with the first person. A user interface is displayed on the terminal via which the first person can indicate that a callback message is to be transmitted to the caller. The callback message is transmitted to the caller, wherein the callback message includes an identification of the first person, a callback control, and text indicating that the caller is to activate the control to initiate another call to the first person. At least partly in response to the caller activating the control, A second call to be placed via which the first person and caller are connected.
US09609138B2
The subject matter herein relates to voice mail systems and, more particularly, cross-media voice mail notification and delivery. Various embodiments described herein provide systems, methods, software, and data structures that operate to, or facilitate, dispatching of voice mail notification messages to voice mailbox owners. In some embodiments, the notifications are sent to the voice mailbox owners in a text format, such as a short message service text message, email, or other text based service. These and other embodiments are described herein.
US09609130B2
A transaction is received in a contact center. The transaction can be an email, an incoming call, an outgoing call, a video call, a text message, and/or the like. A best agent is determined to handle the transaction. A time is determined for the best agent to handle the transaction. The time can be based on a projected time that the agent will be able to handle the transaction, based on a callback time or any criteria. A schedule of the best agent is searched. The schedule of the best agent contains a movable event. A movable event can be any event that can be rescheduled, such as a break. When it is determined that the time for the best agent to handle the transaction is during and/or close to the movable event, the movable event is rescheduled to allow the best agent to handle the transaction.
US09609129B2
The present invention provides systems and methods for controlling signaling data transmitted over a communication system between a first party and a second party. The system comprises a first communication channel configured to carry communication data, wherein the communication data comprises the content of the communication between the first party and the second party; a second communication channel configured to carry signaling data, wherein the signaling data comprises data relating to the first communication channel and sensitive data transmitted by the first party; a signaling processor configured to receive the signaling data from the first party via the second communication channel, modify the signaling data to remove or replace at least some of the sensitive data in the signaling data, and transmit the modified signaling data via the second communication channel to the second party.
US09609127B2
A script for an interactive communication is dynamically adjusted during the interactive communication. The interactive communication is monitored over a communication network using a computer with a processor and memory for input during the interactive communication. Input incompatible with a script for the interactive communication is detected for the interactive communication. The incompatible input is categorized. The script is dynamically adjusted during the interactive communication into a dynamically updated script in accordance with the categorizing. Information is provided over the communication network to the initiator in accordance with the dynamically updated script.
US09609126B2
A system and method includes one or more processors one or more processors coupled to a memory. The one or more processors may execute instructions from the memory to perform the steps including receiving an audio communications request from a first user device of a user, identifying a second user device of the user in response to receiving the audio communications request, providing a suggestion that the user use the second user device with the system, receiving a response from the user responding to the suggestion, establishing a communication channel with the second user device, and providing content associated with the audio communications request to the second user device.
US09609125B2
A telecommunications server (2) controlling a plurality of telecommunications terminals (4) connected to a packet switched telecommunications system (40, 41), responds to call events (20) by transmitting an alert (251, 252) to each of the terminals. If the server is not capable of processing all the required event alerts in parallel, it processes the event alerts to the terminals in a predetermined sequence, according to stored prioritization rules (60). The priority accorded to an individual terminal may be set according to the alert mode (visual-only, or audible) currently set for that terminal (or the user currently using the terminal) for that call type or calling party.
US09609122B2
A telephone number corresponding to an incoming telephone call may be utilized to obtain information associated with the incoming call. If it is determined that the telephone number does not match records stored on the device on which the call is received, a request may be sent from the receiving device to an external device to obtain information associated with the incoming call. The request may be directed to a remote contacts application, another device listed in a data store of the receiving device, or to the calling device itself. When a response is received, the information may be displayed or otherwise utilized by the receiving device.
US09609114B2
A system for controlling at least one motorized window covering using wireless communication is presented. The system includes a wireless device which is wirelessly connected to wireless access point which is connected to a gateway which is wirelessly connected to at least one motorized window covering. The wireless device has a display and an application installed thereon. The application includes an interactive illustration of a window with a moveable bottom bar that extends there across and a plurality of actuation buttons. When a user actuates either the moveable bottom bar or any one of the actuation buttons, the wireless device transmits a control signal to any wirelessly connected motorized window covering instructing it to move in a directed manner. This system provides a convenient and easy to use system and method of controlling motorized window shades.
US09609110B2
An apparatus that can communicate with multiple medical and/or wellness devices and encode data for efficient transmission is described. The apparatus can detect the presence of and receive data from one or more medical and/or wellness devices. The apparatus can receive, decode, store, process, encode, and forward received data through a wired and/or wireless interface. The wired data interface utilizes encoding techniques to render the data stream compatible with audio inputs of personal computing and communication devices.
US09609107B2
A smart phone senses audio, imagery, and/or other stimulus from a user's environment, and acts autonomously to fulfill inferred or anticipated user desires. In one aspect, the detailed technology concerns phone-based cognition of a scene viewed by the phone's camera. In one detailed arrangement, image processing tasks applied to the scene are selected from among various alternatives by reference to resource costs, resource constraints, other stimulus information (e.g., audio), task substitutability, etc. The phone applies more or less resources to an image processing task depending on how successfully the task is proceeding, or based on the user's apparent interest in the task. In another detailed arrangement, data is referred to the cloud for analysis, or for gleaning. In still another detailed arrangement, cognition, and identification of appropriate device response(s), is aided by collateral information, such as context. A great number of other features and arrangements are also detailed.
US09609099B2
A mobile terminal includes a display unit, a front case configured to be combined with the display unit using a front side of the front case, a main board configured to be combined with a rear side of the front case, a rear case configured to be combined with a rear side of the main board, a boss in which a internal screw thread formed on both a left side and a right side of the front case and the internal screw thread heading a rear side is formed, a connection hole formed on a position corresponding to the internal screw thread of the rear case, a screw configured to be connected with the internal screw thread in a manner of passing through the connection hole, a boss bump configured to be positioned at an outer circumstance of the boss and a boss accommodation part configured to be formed on both a left side and a right side of the main board and correspond to a shape of the boss and a shape of the boss bump. It is able to reduce thickness of the mobile terminal by omitting a frame. And, it is able to prevent the case from making a gap in a horizontal direction via a stable connection structure. Moreover, it is also able to prevent the front case and the rear case from being separated from each other via the stable connection structure.
US09609094B2
A mobile phone includes an antenna housing made of a resin, an insert metal plate made of a metal, which is buried in the antenna housing and has a connecting portion exposed from an outer surface of the antenna housing, and an antenna element provided on the outer surface of the antenna housing and brought into contact with the connecting portion. A boundary between a region where the antenna element is in contact with the connecting portion and a region where the antenna element is in contact with the antenna housing is nonlinear. With this structure, a mobile device is provided in which deterioration of the antenna performance is reduced even in the event of being subjected to an excessive external shock.
US09609087B2
A method of sending and receiving configurable buckets of communication is disclosed. A request to send a communication from an application executing on a client to an application executing on a server is received. The communication has a first priority. A request to send an additional communication from the application executing on the client to the application executing on the server is received. The additional communication has a second priority. The communication is placed into a bucket of communications based on the communication having the first priority. A determination is made to send the bucket of communications to the application executing on the server. The additional communication is placed into the bucket of communications based on a determination that the bucket of communications is not full. The bucket of communications is sent to the application executing on the server.
US09609080B2
A method implemented in a delegating server for binding a device identity to a software application comprises receiving registration data from a client device executing a software application and assigning a device identifier to the client device and registering the client device with the delegating server based on the registration data. The method further comprises facilitating communication between the client device and the service provider based on the device identifier, wherein the delegating server is located between the client device and the service provider.
US09609079B1
A method, non-transitory computer readable medium, and application acceleration management (AAM) computing device that modifies an obtained master playlist file such that a first set of meta information is appended to a network address of a secondary playlist file. The secondary playlist file is obtained and modified such that the first and second sets of meta information are appended to a network address of a media file. Alternatively to modifying the playlist files, first and second cookies including the first set of meta information and the first and second sets of meta information, respectively, can be used. A cache score is generated for the media file based on the first and second sets of meta information included in a request for the media file. The media file is obtained, stored in a cache as associated with the cache score, and sent in response to the request.
US09609077B1
A computing device configured to forward a request is described. The computing device includes a processor and instructions stored in memory that is in electronic communication with the processor. The computing device receives a request. The computing device also identifies an agent module based on the request to obtain an identified agent module. The computing device further determines an administrative service based on the identified agent module. The computing device additionally forwards the request to the administrative service. The computing device also sends a reply to the identified agent module.
US09609069B2
Administering a remote session between a target computing device and a remote computing device, including: identifying, by a remote session administration module, a confidentiality level of content displayed by a target computing device, the target computing device engaged in a remote session with remote computing device, the remote session carried out by software executed by the target computing device, software executed by the remote computing device, and an active data communication link between the target computing device and the remote computing device; and controlling, by the remote session administration module, the remote session in dependence upon the confidentiality level of content displayed by the target computing device.
US09609061B2
A rugged and mobile media server/portal for use on a public transport vehicle, such as a train to provide media content to passengers on board said vehicle. The rugged and mobile media server/portal includes a mobile and protective case that contains a computer with a media library stored thereon and a local wireless network access point for providing a local wireless network on board the vehicle.
US09609058B2
Systems and methods are disclosed for speedily upgrading (e.g., via service packs) components of a storage management system, such as media agents and data agents, which may number in the thousands. The disclosed methods and systems provide a lightweight and flexible approach. Executable files such as service packs are deployed to a network-shared file system and are served on demand to each targeted host computing device to launch a data agent and/or media agent component. New service packs (e.g., upgrades) are installed on another shared drive and the connection thereto is refreshed by each targeted storage management component to begin executing the new version on demand. The resultant overall upgrade process across the storage management system may be substantially shortened, and the network burden greatly reduced.
US09609056B2
A first peer device connects to a first mesh network, which does not have the second peer device. The first peer device transmits a request for the content to a third peer device over the first mesh network. In response to the request, the first peer device receives, from the third peer device, the identity of the second peer device and the identity of the file containing the content. The third peer device also creates a tracker representing the request. Subsequently, the third peer device connects to the second peer device over another mesh network (to which the first peer device may not be connected) and indicates to the second peer device that the first peer device has requested the file. The first peer device then connects to the second peer device over another mesh network and receives the file from the second peer device.
US09609054B2
A method includes determining that a trigger condition of a triggered optimization module of a plurality of optimization modules is met and optimizing scalable storage based on an optimization routine. The optimization routine includes providing a plurality of candidate operations and for a selected optimization module of the plurality of optimization modules that has a higher priority than the triggered optimization module, removing a candidate operation from the plurality of candidate operations that would diminish a modeled state of the scalable storage for the selected optimization module. The optimization routine also includes determining at least one operation of the plurality of candidate operations that would improve the modeled state of the scalable storage for the triggered optimization module and updating the modeled state of the scalable storage to model executing the at least one operation. The method further includes executing the at least one operation.
US09609037B2
A method, computer program product and computing device for selecting at least one playlist for transfer, the at least one playlist being stored on a first personal media device. The at least one playlist is converted to a common format, thus generating a first common format playlist. Communication is established with a second personal media device. The first common format playlist is transferred to the second personal media device.
US09609029B2
A service registration system includes a server that provides a service through a network, a peripheral device capable of communicating with the server and using the service, and a terminal device capable of communicating with the server and the peripheral device. When the terminal device receives the registration requesting information representing information related to registration necessary for using the service from a user, the terminal device transmits registration requesting information to the server. When the server receives the registration requesting information from the terminal device, the server transmits service information necessary for using the service. Further, the terminal device can transmit the service information to the peripheral device when it receives the service information from the server. Further, when the peripheral device receives the service information from the terminal device, the peripheral device stores the received service information and operates in a mode where the service is usable.
US09609027B2
Disclosed herein is an instance of a media modality controller of a communication system which is assigned to convey media modality control signals of a communication event to respective media modality agents of endpoints of the communication event without accessing respective call agents of the endpoints. The media modality controller instance is so assigned independently of a call controller of the communication system and responsive to an instruction received via the network. The media modality controller instance is released from said assignment responsive to the media modality controller instance returning a response to the received instruction while the call controller continues to operate in communication with the call agents of the endpoints.
US09609022B2
Various embodiments of systems and methods for dynamically switching device configuration based upon context are described herein. In an aspect, the method includes reading a tag attached to an entry gate of a restricted area through a device. Upon reading the tag, an application is executed to connect the device to a mobile device management (MDM) server. Upon establishing the connection, the restricted area identifier (ID) is sent to the MDM server. The device receives one or more policies applicable for the restricted area from the MDM server. The received one or more policies are executed on the device to change the device configuration. After execution, the device sends a confirmation message to the MDM server to indicate that the device is policy complaint. Upon receiving the confirmation, the MDM server instructs to open the entry gate to allow the device within the restricted area.
US09609021B2
A method and apparatus that secures a dynamic virtualized network is described. In an exemplary embodiment, a device receives a current network policy of the dynamic virtualized network. In addition, the current network policy includes multiple network policy elements, where each of the multiple network policy elements identifies an authorized endpoint in the dynamic virtualized network. The device further determines a network security policy for the dynamic virtualized network from the current network policy. The network security policy includes one or more second network policy elements that are a different network policy element than one of the multiple network policy elements of the current network policy. In addition, each of the one or more second network policy network elements adds an additional policy on how network traffic is processed in the dynamic virtualized network by a port of one of the plurality of network access devices. The device further applies the network security policy to each network access device that is affected by the network security policy.
US09609008B2
In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for detecting restricted content associated with retrieved content. The method and system may include receiving a client request for content, saving contextual information from the client request, presenting retrieved content in response to the client request, and presenting the contextual information from the client request, and retrieved content, to a scanning facility. The scanning facility may utilize the contextual information from the client request to aid in the detection of restricted content associated with retrieved content.
US09609006B2
A computer-implemented method for identifying abnormal computer behavior includes receiving, at a computer server subsystem, data that characterizes subsets of particular document object models for web pages rendered by particular client computers; identifying clusters from the data that characterize the subsets of the particular document object models; and using the clusters to identify alien content on the particular client computers, wherein the alien content comprises content in the document object models that is not the result of content that is the basis of the document object model served.
US09608999B2
A secure beacon-based system includes beacons that may generate dynamic beacon identifiers. A mobile device application may send a request to an application server, including a dynamic beacon identifier. The application server can locally compute the dynamic beacon identifier and compare it to the received beacon identifier to validate the request and determine whether to respond to the request.
US09608993B1
Aspects relate to a computer implemented anonymous credential method for credential abuse prevention and efficient revocation. The method includes acquiring a credential from an issuer at a user, registering the user and credential with an oblivious monitor, generating a user presentation token at the user using the credential, requesting presentation with the oblivious monitor by the user, wherein the user presentation token is transmitted to the oblivious monitor, verifying the user presentation token, wherein presentation is aborted if verification fails, transmitting, from the oblivious monitor, an oblivious monitor presentation token portion to the user in response to the verification passing, transmitting a combined presentation token to a verifier, wherein the combined presentation token includes the user presentation token and the oblivious monitor presentation token portion, and verifying the combined presentation token at the verifier.
US09608990B2
An API counting process that sets a limit number for an API used by a client, and when an access token is issued in response to a request from an authority delegation destination and a request to verify the issued access token is received, manages an API usage limit number on a client-by-client basis in accordance with the usage limit number for each API set for the authority delegation destination, is executed. The API usage number is incremented (S5.2), compared with the usage limit number (S5.3), and the access token verification is considered to have failed in the case where the limit has been exceeded.
US09608989B2
A method for granting trusted applications (SP1_WL) of a Service Provider (SP1, SP2)access to applications (appSP1.1, appSP1.2; appSP2.1) of that Service Provider (SP1, SP2) that have been stored in a secure element (SE) comprises: the Service Provider (SP1, SP2) transmits a request (REQ1) for granting access to its applications to a Trusted Service Manager (TSM); the Trusted Service Manager (TSM) generates an access right code (AC1) and transmits it to both the Service Provider (SP1, SP2) and a service manager (SM) in the secure element (SE); the Service Provider (SP1, SP2) generates the trusted application (SP1_WL), provides it with the access right code (AC1) and sends it to the secure element (SE); the trusted application (SP1_WL) connects to the service manager (SM) with the access right code (AC1) whereupon the service manager (SM) grants the wallet (SP1_WL) access to the applications (appSP1.1, appSP1.2; appSP2.1).
US09608988B2
Methods and systems for authenticating a security device for providing a secure access and transaction authorization to a remote network location are provided. The security device is authenticated by installing private security software on the security device. In order to authorize a transaction, a transaction authorization is performed using the security device by display a QR (Quick Response) code from an authorization server on a user terminal and scanning the QR code into the security device. After scanning the QR code, an OTA (One-Time-Authorization) code is sent from the security device to the authorization server for verifying the transaction. Embodiments of the present invention provide increased security and privacy. A corresponding system for authenticating a security device and preforming secure and private transactions is also provided.
US09608987B2
In various embodiments, a computer-implemented method for sharing tasks over one or more computer networks is disclosed. The method includes providing a task created on a first computer system located in a first network, the task comprising content information and metadata information. The task can be shared with a user of a second network that is different from the first network. The method can include transmitting the metadata information of the task to a second computer system in the second network over the one or more computer networks without transmitting the content information, the metadata information comprising at least a task identifier. The method can include receiving a request from the user to access the task. The method can include verifying that the user is a task participant. The content information of the task can be securely presented to the user over the one or more computer networks.
US09608986B2
A verification server is configured to communicate with a usage target system via a first communication channel and an information terminal device via a second communication channel. The verification server includes: a unit for registering personal information of a user for using a usage target system; a unit for receiving, via the second communication channel, system identification information of the usage target system and a restriction code from an information terminal device owned by a use; a unit for generating an internal system password for the usage target system; a unit for receiving, via the first communication channel, a plurality of characters from the usage target system, the plurality of characters being inputted by a user into the usage target system; and a unit for determining whether the plurality of characters are legitimate based on the internal system password and the system identification information.
US09608979B2
Systems, methods, and computer program products are provided for managing applets. A first request to personalize the first applet is received over a communications network. A second request including a command requesting at least a portion of the second applet data is communicated to the second applet. At least a portion of the second applet data is communicated to the first applet. One or more values of the first applet data are replaced with one or more values of at least the portion of the second applet data.
US09608975B2
Computer systems and methods in various embodiments are configured for improving the security and efficiency of server computers interacting through an intermediary computer with client computers that may be executing malicious and/or autonomous headless browsers or “bots”. In an embodiment, a computer system comprises: a memory; a processor coupled to the memory; a protocol client module that is coupled to the processor and the memory and configured to intercept a first set of instructions that define one or more original operations, which are configured to cause one or more requests to be sent to the server computer when executed by the client computer; a forward transformer module that is coupled to the processor and the memory and configured to: generate, at the intermediary computer system, a first challenge credential to be sent to the client computer; render one or more first dynamic-credential instructions, which when executed by the client computer, cause the client computer to generate a first dynamic credential that corresponds to the first challenge credential and to include the first dynamic credential in the one or more requests from the client computer; modify the first set of instructions to produce a second set of instructions, wherein the second set of instructions include the first challenge credential and the one or more first dynamic-credential instructions, and which when executed by the client computer, cause the first challenge credential to be included in the one or more requests sent from the client computer; send the second set of instructions to a second computer.
US09608952B2
Systems and methods for receiving a communication on one or more user devices within a vehicle and redirecting the communications based at least in part on one or more user profiles associated with occupants of the vehicle is disclosed. The redirection of the communication may further be based at least in part on one or more sensor signals or a drive characteristic associated with the vehicle.
US09608951B2
An approach is provided in which a request is received from a requestor to send a new email message to one or more recipients on behalf of a selected joint sender group (JSG). The selected JSG includes multiple JSG members with one of the JSG members being the requestor. Permissions corresponding to the JSG are then retrieved and compared to the requestor and the contents of the new email message are identified. The new email message is then sent to the recipients in response to determining, based on the comparison, that the requestor has permission to send the new email message on behalf of the selected JSG. On the other hand, the sending of the new email message is inhibited in response to determining that the requestor lacks permission to send the new email message on behalf of the selected JSG.
US09608944B2
Provided are an information processing method and apparatus being applicable to a first electronic device, comprising establishing a communication link between the first and a second electronic device; displaying a first communication interface; judging whether a predetermined condition is satisfied; and displaying a second communication interface when it is judged that the predetermined condition is satisfied; wherein the second communication interface comprises a first area and a second area, the first and second areas are at least partially overlapped, and the first area comprises a first subarea and/or a second subarea, the second subarea is used for displaying first information acquired by the first electronic device, the first subarea is used for displaying second information acquired by the second electronic device, the second area is used for displaying shared information, and at least a part of the shared information is simultaneously displayed on the first and second electronic device.
US09608935B2
Systems and methods relate to a network on chip (NoC) which includes one or more channels configured to carry data packets in a first direction, the first direction having an upstream end and a downstream end. A tunnel is configured between an upstream element at the upstream end and a downstream element at the downstream end. The tunnel includes common wires which are shared by the one or more channels. The tunnel is configured to transmit data packets of two or more formats on the common wires based on common signals. common signals comprise data signals to transmit one or more of data, control, or debug information belonging to the data packets on the common wires, and framing signals to control transmission of the data signals on the common wires.
US09608922B2
An apparatus, system, and method for controlling traffic on an on-chip network. Embodiments of the method comprise injecting a packet at a first rate into the on-chip network by a first node coupled to the on-chip network, receiving the packet at a second node coupled to the on-chip network, modifying a bit in the packet by the second node in response to determining that a rate at which packets are injected into the on-chip network should change, returning the packet with the bit modified to the first node by the second node, and changing the first rate by the first node in response to detecting that the bit in the packet was modified.
US09608917B1
Systems and methods for achieving high utilization of a network link are provided. A first communication protocol can be selected for transmitting network flows of a first type. A first quality of service can be assigned to network flows of the first type. A second communication protocol can be selected for transmitting network flows of a second type. A second quality of service, lower than the first quality of service, can be assigned to network flows of the second type. A first percentage of available bandwidth can be allocated to the network flows of both the first and second types. The remaining bandwidth, plus a second percentage of available bandwidth, can be allocated to the network flows of the second type, such that the total allocated bandwidth exceeds the available bandwidth of the network link.
US09608910B2
A user equipment (UE) is disclosed. The UE can identify a downlink control channel. The UE can determine when the downlink control channel is an enhanced physical downlink control channel (EPDCCH). The UE can select an enhanced physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) resource allocation for a hybrid automatic retransmission re-quest-acknowledge (HARQ-ACK) transmission when the downlink control channel is the EPDCCH.
US09608908B2
In the present situation, a switch cannot identify inner tag data (VLAN ID data before QinQed in the input of OF-NW) given to each of packets which flow in an open flow network (OF-NW). Therefore, OF-NW composed only one VLAN cannot handle a plurality of VLANs. Specifically, a controller handles a plurality of VLANs in the OF-NW in which there is only one VLAN, by mapping the inner tag data given to the packets which flow through the OF-NW, and flow cookie data showing the flow entry corresponding to the packets which flow through the OF-NW. Specifically, the flow flowing into the OF-NW is transferred from the switch to the controller, and the controller learns VLAN ID data in the input of the OF-NW, and handles the plurality of VLANs by mapping this VLAN ID and the flow cookie data showing the flow entry corresponding to the packet in the OF-NW.
US09608901B2
A system and method for chaining one or more services in a service provider network. A service chaining policy and associated Service Path Identifier (SPID) are determined at an ingress node with respect to a particular data packet flow. If the service chaining policy involves one or more service nodes to be traversed by the data packet flow, each service node's EIDs and RLOCs are determined. A sequential data exchange process with the service nodes is effectuated using encapsulation of data packets based on the EIDs and RLOCs for obtaining services in accordance with the order of services set forth in the chaining policy.
US09608898B2
A multicast path trace capability is provided for tracing a multicast path from a root node to a leaf node where the trace originates at the leaf node. The leaf node sends a multicast trace request to the root node. The root node receives the multicast trace request and initiates a path trace request for collecting path information associated with the multicast path. The root node receives at least one path trace response, in response to the path trace request, which includes path information associated with the multicast path. The root node sends a multicast trace response, including the collected path information, to the leaf node. The leaf node receives the multicast trace response including the path information. The leaf node derives end-to-end path information for the multicast path using the path information received in the multicast trace response. The multicast path trace capability may be used for tracing an MPLS multicast path (e.g., a P2MP LSP) from a root node to a leaf node of the MPLS multicast tree. The multicast path trace capability may be used for tracing multicast paths in other types of multicast networks.
US09608893B2
Methods and apparatuses for use in applying an update to a communication protocol in a software application that is executed by a computing device are described herein. The computing device receives a protocol definition corresponding to a communication protocol and indicating positions of data elements within data objects corresponding to the communication protocol. When the computing device determines that the received protocol definition differs from a previous protocol definition corresponding to the communication protocol, the computing device creates a machine-executable object parser based on the received protocol definition. The machine-executable object parser is accessible to a software application executed by the computing device. The software application receives a data object corresponding to the communication protocol, and the computing device executes the machine-executable object parser to parse at least a portion of the data elements in the data object received by the software application.
US09608884B2
There is provided a system and method for remote management of a computer. The method includes establishing a connection between a remote console and a managed server. Additionally, the method includes detecting a change in the status of the connection and issuing commands to lock the managed server if a change in status of the connection is detected.
US09608882B1
A method and system for tracking network events are provided. A network event tracking system includes a network event database, multiple disparate networks, and a report generator. The network event database stores network event data and network element data associated with the multiple disparate networks. A vendor corresponding to each network element supplements the network element data stored in the network event database with vendor data when the network element is operating in a specified condition. The report generator utilizes the network event database to provide snapshots of network health during specified periods based on the network events associated with the network elements. Also, the report generator provides definitions for network acronyms and contact information for network sites associated with network elements.
US09608875B2
Individually unique key performance indicator management may be utilized to enhance performance in a network. A warning alarm threshold for a key performance indicator associated with a mobile device may be determined. And upon receiving an alert message indicating that the warning alarm threshold has been exceeded, a network device may be modified.
US09608874B2
Methods and apparatus to identify network topologies are disclosed. An example method comprises determining a set of network nodes between a pair of designated nodes in a network based on a configuration of the network and locations of the designated nodes; determining valid combinations of the network nodes by determining whether the combination of available ones of the set of network nodes enables monitoring of the network according to the configuration of the network; and generating performance measurement commands for the valid combinations of the network nodes.
US09608845B2
A system comprises a transmitter coupled to a receiver through a plurality of transmission lines, wherein the transmitter comprises a continuous time linear equalizer and a voltage mode driver. The continuous time linear equalizer comprises a differential input stage, a RC degeneration network coupled to the differential input stage and a current source coupled to the differential input stage. The continuous time linear equalizer and the voltage mode driver share a same input port and a same output port.
US09608835B2
A method and apparatus for creating a smart network of control devices includes a master control device and a plurality of programmable control devices; the master control device having a wireless transmission unit and each of the plurality of programmable control devices having a wireless communication unit being configured for wireless communication between the master control device and the programmable control devices. The master control device is positioned within close proximity to one or more of the plurality of programmable control devices in order to send a configuration signal that is used to add the one or more programmable control devices to the network of control devices; a unique identifier being allocated to each of the programmable control devices added to the network of control devices. In the same way, one or more of the programmable control devices can be removed from network of control devices.
US09608831B2
Migrating a chat messaging service provided for a chat user is disclosed. At a second chat server from a first chat server, static information associated with a chat user is received. The static information is received before the chat user is indicated as being associated with a migration state. At the second chat server from the first chat server, dynamic information associated with the chat user is received. At least a portion of the dynamic information is received after the chat user is indicated as being associated with the migration state. After the chat user is no longer indicated as being associated with the migration state, a chat message for the chat user is received at the second chat server.
US09608825B2
This application is directed to trusted platform module certification and attestation utilizing an anonymous key system. In general, TPM certification and TPM attestation may be supported in a device utilizing integrated TPM through the use of anonymous key system (AKS) certification. An example device may comprise at least combined AKS and TPM resources that load AKS and TPM firmware (FW) into a runtime environment that may further include at least an operating system (OS) encryption module, an AKS service module and a TPM Certification and Attestation (CA) module. For TPM certification, the CA module may interact with the other modules in the runtime environment to generate a TPM certificate, signed by an AKS certificate, that may be transmitted to a certification platform for validation. For TPM attestation, the CA module may cause TPM credentials to be provided to the attestation platform for validation along with the TPM and/or AKS certificates.
US09608820B2
Mobile terminal, restricting system and method of accessing an information using the mobile terminal
The exemplary embodiment relates to a system and method for restricting the disclosure of information employing a mobile terminal, which restricts the disclosure of information using a mobile terminal. In an aspect, the exemplary embodiment provides a mobile terminal, including a short-range communication module performing the short-range communication channel, memory storing authorization information for allowing access to unaccessible information stored in the information device, and a controller transmitting the authorization information through the short-range communication module.
US09608819B1
A method includes receiving a first and a second linearity ciphertexts representative of a first and second biometric templates, respectively that are encrypted using a relational linearity encryption scheme (linearity scheme). The linearity scheme is based on learning parity with noise. The method includes discovering a linearity relationship between the first and the second linearity ciphertexts. The method includes receiving a first and a second proximity hash value representative of the first and second biometric templates, respectively encrypted using a relational proximity hash scheme (proximity scheme). The proximity scheme is based on the linearity scheme and an error correcting code. The method includes detecting a proximity between the first and the second proximity hash value in terms of a Hamming distance. The method includes authenticating an identity of a user based on the proximity and the linearity relationship.
US09608818B2
Provided is a cryptographic communication system including a first semiconductor device and a second semiconductor device. The first semiconductor device includes a common key generation unit that generates a common key CK(a) by using a unique code UC(a) and correction data CD(a), and an encryption unit that encrypts the common key CK(a) generated in the common key generation unit by using a public key PK(b) of the second semiconductor device. The second semiconductor device includes a secret key generation unit that generates a secret key SK(b) by using a unique code UC(b) and correction data CD(b), and a decryption unit that decrypts the common key CK(a) encrypted in the encryption unit by using the secret key SK(b).
US09608815B2
Systems, methods, and apparatuses are provided for ciphering error detection and recovery. A method may include using a first set of one or more cipher input parameters to decipher ciphered data ciphered using a second set of one or more cipher input parameters. The method may further include comparing a value of at least a portion of the deciphered data to an expected value. The method may additionally include determining an occurrence of a ciphering error when the value of the at least a portion of the deciphered data is not equal to the expected value. The method may also include initiating a ciphering resynchronization procedure in response to the determination that a ciphering error occurred so as to resynchronize at least one of the first set of cipher input parameters with at least one of the second set of cipher input parameters. Corresponding systems and apparatuses are also provided.
US09608810B1
Systems and methods for securing or encrypting data or other information arising from a user's interaction with software and/or hardware, resulting in transformation of original data into ciphertext. Generally, the ciphertext is generated using context-based keys that depend on the environment in which the original data originated and/or was accessed. The ciphertext can be stored in a user's storage device or in an enterprise database (e.g., at-rest encryption) or shared with other users (e.g., cryptographic communication). The system generally allows for secure federation across organizations, including mechanisms to ensure that the system itself and any other actor with pervasive access to the network cannot compromise the confidentially of the protected data.
US09608809B1
Systems and methods for securing or encrypting data or other information arising from a user's interaction with software and/or hardware, resulting in transformation of original data into ciphertext. Generally, the ciphertext is generated using context-based keys that depend on the environment in which the original data originated and/or was accessed. The ciphertext can be stored in a user's storage device or in an enterprise database (e.g., at-rest encryption) or shared with other users (e.g., cryptographic communication). The system generally allows for secure federation across organizations, including mechanisms to ensure that the system itself and any other actor with pervasive access to the network cannot compromise the confidentially of the protected data.
US09608792B2
Disclosed are an adaptive frequency domain resource configuration method, an apparatus, and a communications system. The method includes receiving, by a receiving apparatus, a pilot signal transmitted by a transmitting apparatus and feeding back channel information of a channel for transmitting the pilot signal to the transmitting apparatus by measuring the pilot signal, so that the transmitting apparatus divides a bandwidth frequency of the transmitting apparatus according to the channel information. The receiving apparatus can feed back the channel information to the transmitting apparatus according to the received pilot signal, so that the transmitting apparatus can divide the bandwidth frequency according to channel quality, and adaptive adjustment can be performed on a frequency domain resource of each subcarrier according to the channel information fed back by the receiving apparatus.
US09608784B2
A base station communicating data to/from plural mobile terminals over plural OFDM sub-carriers within a coverage area. The base station allocates transmission resources provided by a first group of the plural OFDM sub-carriers within a first frequency band to mobile terminals of a first type and allocates transmission resources provided by a second group of the plural OFDM sub-carriers within a second frequency band to terminals of a second type, the second group being smaller than the first group and the second frequency band selected from within the first frequency band. The base station transmits control information including resource allocation information for terminals of the first type over a first bandwidth corresponding to the combined first and second groups of OFDM sub-carriers and transmits control information including resource allocation information for terminals of the second type over a second bandwidth corresponding to the second group of OFDM sub-carriers.
US09608782B2
A method for enhancing usable bandwidth between an access point of a radio access network of a telecommunications network and a User Equipment of a subscriber of the telecommunications network, in which the User Equipment and the access point are configured to mutually communicate based on a standardized mobile communication technology using carrier aggregation of at least a first communication carrier having a first carrier frequency and a second communication carrier having a second carrier frequency. The first carrier frequency is a standardized and licensed frequency and is related to the standardized mobile communication technology. An antenna device of the access point transmits and/or receives radio frequency signals to and/or from the User Equipment.
US09608780B2
Techniques for transmitting data with transmit diversity for single-carrier frequency division multiple access (SC-FDMA) are described. In one design, a transmitter (e.g., a UE) may form a first symbol vector including first and second modulation symbol sequences. The transmitter may also form a second symbol vector including third and fourth modulation symbol sequences, which may be generated based on the second and first modulation symbol sequences, respectively. Each symbol vector may further include a cyclic prefix and possibly a cyclic postfix for each modulation symbol sequence. The transmitter may generate a first SC-FDMA symbol based on the first symbol vector and a second SC-FDMA symbol based on the second symbol vector. The transmitter may transmit the first and second SC-FDMA symbols from two transmit antennas in a single SC-FDMA symbol period to achieve transmit diversity.
US09608779B2
Methods of data allocation and signal receiving, a wireless transmitting apparatus, and a wireless receiving apparatus are provided based on orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) technology. The wireless transmitting apparatus obtains a data stream and allocates the data stream to a first sub-carrier set. Each of the first sub-carrier set and a second sub-carrier set has sub-carriers with opposite frequencies to each other, respectively. The second sub-carrier is emptied or allocated according the data stream allocated to the first sub-carrier set. The data stream is converted into an OFDM signal transmitted through a transmitting module. The wireless receiving apparatus includes a single branch receiver for receiving a radio frequency (RF) signal and outputting a baseband signal. Subsequently, the data stream is restored from the baseband signal.
US09608774B2
Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide techniques opportunistic retransmissions. According to certain aspects, a user equipment (UE) may transmit data associated with a first hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) process, receive signaling indicating the UE is to retransmit the data in at least one subframe not belonging to the first HARQ process, and retransmit the data on the at least one subframe. According to certain aspects, a base station (BS) may schedule a UE to transmit data on a first HARQ process and signal the UE to retransmit the data in at least one subframe not belonging to the first HARQ process.
US09608772B2
The present invention is related to a method and apparatus for implementing space frequency block coding (SFBC) in an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) wireless communication system. The present invention is applicable to both a closed loop mode and an open loop mode. In the closed loop mode, power loading and eigen-beamforming are performed based on channel state information (CSI). A channel coded data stream is multiplexed into two or more data streams. Power loading is performed based on the CSI on each of the multiplexed data streams. SFBC encoding is performed on the data streams for each of the paired subcarriers. Then, eigen-beamforming is performed based on the CSI to distribute eigenbeams to multiple transmit antennas. The power loading may be performed on two or more SFBC encoding blocks or on each eigenmodes. Additionally, the power loading may be performed across subcarriers or subcarrier groups for weak eigenmodes.
US09608771B2
A method for generating a beamforming training (BFT) unit includes generating a physical layer (PHY) preamble of the BFT unit and generating a first encoding block and a second encoding block using PHY data and MAC data, including at least one of i) using a number of padding bits in a PHY layer of the BFT unit such that the BFT unit consists of the PHY preamble, the first encoding block, and the second encoding block, and ii) generating a MAC protocol data unit (MPDU) having a length such that the BFT unit consists of the PHY preamble, the first encoding block, and the second encoding block.
US09608768B2
A method and apparatus for staggercasting are described including encoding and compressing a first data sequence, packetizing the compressed encoded data sequence to form a data packet, performing forward error correction (FEC) encoding on the data packet in order to generate a second data sequence related to the first data sequence, appending FEC control information as padding to the end of payload data of the data packet, packetizing the second data sequence to form a packet, multicasting the data packet to a first multicast group, multicasting the packet formed using the second data sequence delayed by an offset time to a second multicast group.
US09608767B2
A method and apparatus for staggercasting are described including encoding and compressing a first data sequence, packetizing the compressed encoded data sequence to form a data packet, performing forward error correction (FEC) encoding on the data packet in order to generate a second data sequence related to the first data sequence, appending FEC control information as padding to the end of payload data of the data packet, packetizing the second data sequence to form a packet, multicasting the data packet to a first multicast group, multicasting the packet formed using the second data sequence delayed by an offset time to a second multicast group.
US09608756B2
Aircrafts or unmanned air vehicles flying near Earth are used as airborne communications towers or relays. Using techniques of ground based beam forming and wavefront multiplexing enhance the ability to coherently combine the power of the communication signals, and improve the signal-to-noise ratio.
US09608752B2
Systems and methods of transporting internal radio base station (RBS) interface information over a packet network are presented. In one exemplary embodiment, in an interworking function (IWF) for communicating packets between a radio equipment (RE) and a radio equipment controller (REC) of a radio base station (RBS), a method may include receiving a packet sent from another IWF and having internal RBS interface information and residence time measurement (RTM) information that characterizes an asymmetry between processing times on links in different directions between the RE and the REC. Further, the method may include determining an asymmetry compensation that compensates for the asymmetry using the RTM information. Also, the method may include applying the asymmetry compensation to a timestamp of the internal RBS interface information to obtain an updated internal RBS interface information. In addition, the method may include transmitting the updated internal RBS interface information to one of the RE and the REC that is attached to the IWF.
US09608749B2
An apparatus includes: a first multiplexer configured to allow bi-directional communication over a first plurality of multiplexed communication bands that each include a corresponding transmit band and a corresponding receive band, wherein none of the transmit bands of the first multiplexer have transmit frequencies that overlap with any receive frequencies of any of the receive bands of the first multiplexer; a second multiplexer configured to allow bi-directional communication over a second plurality of multiplexed communication bands that each include a corresponding transmit band and a corresponding receive band, wherein none of the transmit bands of the second multiplexer have transmit frequencies that overlap with any receive frequencies of any of the receive bands of the second multiplexer; and an electromechanical band switch configured to selectively connect the first and second multiplexers to a common antenna.
US09608736B2
A planar lightwave circuit and an optical receiver which reduce degradation in signal quality is provided.A planar lightwave circuit includes: a substrate with a straight groove formed therein; a signal light input port which is formed in the substrate and receives signal light; a first planar filter part which is fitted into the groove and separates the signal light into a signal light component including a first polarization state and that including a second polarization state; a second planar filter part which is fitted into the groove and separates the local oscillator light into a local oscillator light component including the first polarization state and that including the second polarization state; a first interference part formed in the substrate; a second interference part which is formed on a side of the substrate opposite to the side of the first interference part across the groove; a first waveguide which is connected to the signal light input port and also to a reflection surface of the first planar filter part; a second and a third waveguide; a fourth waveguide which is connected to the local oscillator light input port and also to a reflection surface of the second planar filter part; and a fifth and a sixth waveguide.
US09608731B2
A microfabricated optical apparatus that includes a light source driven by a waveform, a turning mirror, and a beam shaping element, wherein the waveform is delivered to the light source by at least one through silicon via.
US09608730B2
Particular embodiments use aggregation logic that reduces the noise in a daisy-chained optical return signal aggregation of multiple nodes. The aggregation logic determines when an input to a transmitter/receiver is not used and disables or turns off that input. Further, in the case of daisy-chaining, a service group aggregation signal (e.g., RF signals) from the customer premise equipment (CPEs) serviced by a respective node are presented to the channel “A” port of a digital return transmitter/receiver. However, internal to the transmitter/receiver, aggregation logic auto-senses what optical return signals have already been aggregated up to that point in the daisy chain and can then intelligently place the service group aggregation signal onto one of the digital return transmitter channels. In one embodiment, if there are two return channels, A and B, whichever of these channels has seen fewer aggregations up to this point, will receive the service group aggregation signal.
US09608715B1
A Long Term Evolution (LTE) network delivers a media service that uses an Access Point Name (APN) Quality-of-Service (QoS) Class Identifier (QCI) to serve User Equipment (UE) over a wireless relay. A relay control system transfers a session request indicating the APN QCI to a wireless base station serving the wireless relay. The base station and the wireless relay configure a wireless network bearer to use the APN QCI. Responsive to the network bearer configuration, the wireless relay transfers a relay bearer request for the APN QCI to the relay control system. The relay control system returns a session request to the wireless relay. The wireless relay and the UE then configure a wireless access bearer to use the APN QCI. The wireless relay exchanges user media over the wireless access bearer and the wireless network bearer between the UE and the wireless base station using the APN QCI.
US09608709B1
System and methods for (i) covering wirelessly a large angular span using combinations of directional antennas, (ii) dynamic synthesis of antenna radiation patterns, and (iii) antenna configuration selection and beamforming.
US09608700B2
A wireless device, method, and signal for use in communication of a wireless packet between transmitting device and a wireless receiving device via a plurality of antennas, wherein a signal generator generates wireless packet including a short-preamble sequence used for a first automatic gain control (AGC), a first long-preamble sequence, a signal field used for conveying a length of the wireless packet, an AGC preamble sequence used for a second AGC to be performed after the first AGC, a second long-preamble sequence, and a data field conveying data. The AGC preamble sequence is transmitted in parallel by the plurality of antennas.
US09608697B2
Disclosed herein are a wireless power transmitting apparatus and method of wirelessly transmitting a power to a power receiving apparatus by selectively using one central coil and two side coils, wherein in the case in which each of the one central coil and the two side coils transmits the power, a reception power amount received by the power receiving apparatus is judged, at least one of the one central coil and the two side coils is selected as a power transmitting coil that is to transmit the power by the judged reception power amount, and the power is wirelessly transmitted to the power receiving apparatus through the selected power transmitting coil.
US09608696B2
This disclosure provides several mechanisms for adapting transmit power spectral density (PSD). A communications device may adapt the power spectrum utilized at the transmitter based, at least in part, on the channel conditions or PSD constraints associated with the communications medium between the transmitter and a receiver device. Additionally, the transmit PSD may be adapted based, at least in part, on a total power capability associated with a transmitter. Power is allocated to improve throughput and utilization of the communications channel. A transmission profile may be selected based, at least in part, on the notch depth. The transmission profile may be associated with symbol timing parameters. The communications device may maintain a plurality of selectable pulse shapes that are optimized for different notch depths.
US09608681B1
In one embodiment, an integrated circuit includes: a first input pad to receive a radio frequency (RF) signal; a radio receiver to process the RF signal and output a digitally processed signal; an analog filter to receive a digital signal via an input signal path and output a drive signal via an output signal path; and a first output pad coupled to the output signal path to output a filtered digital signal based on the drive signal.
US09608672B2
An apparatus for generating base band receive signals includes a first analog-to-digital converter module generating a first digital high frequency receive signal at least by sampling a first analog high frequency receive signal, a first digital signal processing module generating a first base band receive signal based on the first digital high frequency receive signal, a second analog-to-digital converter module generating a second digital high frequency receive signal at least by sampling a second analog high frequency receive signal and a second digital signal processing module generating a second base band receive signal based on the second digital high frequency receive signal. The first analog high frequency receive signal comprises first payload data at a first receive channel associated with a first carrier frequency and the second analog high frequency receive signal comprises second payload data at a second receive channel associated with a second carrier frequency.
US09608660B2
A digital-to-analog converter (DAC) is described. The DAC comprises a resistor having a resistance R and a capacitor having a capacitance C. The DAC comprises a first switching element configured, in response to a first control signal, to couple the capacitor to a first rail via a path having a resistance less than R and a second switching element configured, in response to a second control signal, to couple the capacitor to the first rail through the resistor. The DAC also comprises a third switching element configured, in response to a third control signal, to couple the capacitor to a second rail (8) via a path having a resistance less than R and a fourth switching element configured, in response to a responsive to a fourth control signal, to couple the capacitor to the second through the resistor. The capacitor can be quickly charged or discharged over a period less than RC or less than 0.7 RC. The DAC may comprise a first control element configured to switch on the second switching element before switching on the first switching element and a second control element configured to switch on the fourth switching element before switching on the third switching element.
US09608645B2
In one implementation an output signal of an oscillator is varied to be within a desired frequency band with respect to a reference signal, the output signal having a plurality of phases. The implementation may include comparing the output signal with the reference signal, counting falling edges about each phase of the number of phases in a predetermined time period and summing to define a count output; comparing the count output with a product of the number of phases of the output signal and the factor to define a comparison, generating a control signal based upon the comparison, and inputting the control signal to the oscillator to alter the output signal thereof.
US09608642B1
A delay lock loop including a selection unit, a delay unit, and a phase detection unit is provided. The selection unit receives a non-inverted clock signal and an inverted clock signal and generates a first clock signal and a second clock signal according to an indication signal. The delay unit is coupled to the selection unit. The delay unit includes a delay factor and delays the first clock signal to generate a third clock signal according to the delay factor. The phase detection unit is coupled to the delay unit and the selection unit and generates the indication signal according to a phase difference between the second and third clock signals. The delay unit adjusts the delay factor according to the indication signal.
US09608637B2
Dynamic voltage level shifters employing pulse generation circuits are disclosed. In one aspect, a dynamic voltage level shifter includes a dynamic voltage level shifting circuit. The dynamic voltage level shifting circuit includes a pre-charge circuit configured to provide supply voltage of a first voltage domain to a dynamic node in response to a clock signal having pre-charge voltage. An evaluate circuit is configured to provide ground voltage to the dynamic node in response to an input signal having an active voltage while the clock signal has evaluate voltage. A keeper circuit is configured to provide a reduced drive strength to the dynamic node in response to pulse signal. The pulse signal is generated by a pulse generation circuit, wherein a pulse width of the pulse signal correlates to a difference in supply voltages of first and second voltage domains.
US09608636B2
Described is an apparatus comprising a first node to receive signal; a second node to provide an output signal; a voltage limiter circuit operating under a first supply voltage, the voltage limiter coupled to the first and the second nodes; and a bypass circuit operating under the first supply voltage, the bypass circuit coupled to the voltage limiter circuit and is capable of being enabled to electrically short the first node to the second node.
US09608631B2
A semiconductor memory device includes a ZQ calibration unit configured to generate a pull-up VOH code according to a first target VOH proportional to a power supply voltage and an output driver configured to generate a data signal having a VOH proportional to the power supply voltage based on the pull-up VOH code, wherein VOH means “output high level voltage.”
US09608629B2
In the present invention, a capacitance-type switch is provided with an operation plate and an electrode plate. The operation plate forms operation surfaces operated by the touch of a fingertip F (operation body) of a user. The electrode plate is disposed on the side of the operation plate opposite the operation surfaces. Furthermore, the capacitance-type switch is turned on and off in response to the change in capacitance caused between the fingertip F and the electrode plate. In addition, a high-permittivity material is disposed in an outer circumferential section of the electrode plate, the high-permittivity material having a higher permittivity than the operation plate. It is possible to improve the sensitivity of the capacitance-type switch while minimizing malfunctioning.
US09608620B2
The present invention relates to a control system and control method for controlling a switching device (1) integrated in an electronic converter, the object of which is to extend the working voltage range of the switching devices and thus increase the power of the electronic DC/AC converter which prepares the energy produced by a energy generating system and injects it into the electrical grid. It basically comprises a voltage source (3), a capacitance (7), a first gate resistor (21) and a second gate resistor (22), a first circuit formed by a series resistor (6) with a first diode (5), a second circuit formed by a second diode (4) and a connecting element (8) controlled by a control unit (12) that controls the opening and closing thereof. Another object of the present invention is a switching cell for an electronic converter comprising said control system.
US09608619B2
A method and apparatus are disclosed for use in improving the gate oxide reliability of semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) metal-oxide-silicon field effect transistor (MOSFET) devices using accumulated charge control (ACC) techniques. The method and apparatus are adapted to remove, reduce, or otherwise control accumulated charge in SOI MOSFETs, thereby yielding improvements in FET performance characteristics. In one embodiment, a circuit comprises a MOSFET, operating in an accumulated charge regime, and means for controlling the accumulated charge, operatively coupled to the SOI MOSFET. A first determination is made of the effects of an uncontrolled accumulated charge on time dependent dielectric breakdown (TDDB) of the gate oxide of the SOI MOSFET. A second determination is made of the effects of a controlled accumulated charge on TDDB of the gate oxide of the SOI MOSFET. The SOI MOSFET is adapted to have a selected average time-to-breakdown, responsive to the first and second determinations, and the circuit is operated using techniques for accumulated charge control operatively coupled to the SOI MOSFET. In one embodiment, the accumulated charge control techniques include using an accumulated charge sink operatively coupled to the SOI MOSFET body.
US09608617B2
The present disclosure provides a short circuit protection circuit with small area and less current-consuming. A short circuit protection circuit 14 includes a transistor M11 and a resistor R11, serially connected between a source and a drain of an output transistor 11 (transistor M10); and a transistor M12, connected between the source and a gate of the output transistor 11 and forming a current mirror together with the transistor M11.
US09608611B1
A phase interpolator implemented in an integrated circuit to generate a clock signal is described. The phase interpolator comprises a plurality of inputs coupled to receive a plurality of clock signals; a plurality of transistor pairs, each transistor pair having a first transistor coupled to a first output node and a second transistor coupled to a second output node, wherein a first clock signal associated with the transistor pair is coupled to a gate of the first transistor and an inverted first clock signal associated with the transistor pair is coupled to a gate of the second transistor; a first active inductor load coupled to the first output node; and a second active inductor load coupled to the second output node.
US09608595B1
A narrow-band acoustic filter comprises an input and an output, and at least one acoustic resonator pair coupled between the input and the output. Each of the acoustic resonator pair(s) comprises at least one in-line acoustic resonator and in-shunt acoustic resonator that operate together to create a nominal passband. The acoustic filter further comprises at least one capacitive element in parallel with one of the in-line acoustic resonator and the in-shunt acoustic resonator of each of the acoustic resonator pair(s), thereby sharpening one of a lower edge and an upper edge of the nominal passband.
US09608581B2
A differential amplifier includes an amplifying stage that outputs an output signal by amplifying an input signal with a gain set by a control signal, and an adjusting stage that stabilizes a DC level of the output signal. The amplifying stage includes a first source supplying a first current, and a load, and determines a ratio of a current flowing through the load to the first current depending on the input signal and the control signal, and generates the output signal from a voltage drop of the load. The adjusting stage includes a second source supplying a second current, and a monitor resistor, and generates a monitor current divided from the second current by the ratio, and duplicates the DC level as a voltage drop of the monitor resistor caused by the monitor current, and controls the first current source and the second current source depending on the DC level.
US09608574B2
Techniques for improving performance of a transformer shared amongst a plurality of operating modes. In an aspect, first and second primary windings of a transformer are coupled to an AC ground voltage. Primary windings are mutually coupled to a secondary winding of the transformer. To render the second primary winding inactive, e.g., when operating in a first mode, a switch coupling the second primary winding to the common reference voltage is opened. Similarly, when it is desired to render the first primary winding inactive, e.g., when operating in a second mode, a switch coupling the first primary winding to the common reference voltage is opened. In this manner, the inactive primary winding advantageously does not load the secondary winding. Further aspects provide for, e.g., extending the techniques to more than two modes, and alternative techniques to mutually couple the signal from the primary to the secondary winding.
US09608573B2
A balanced Doherty power amplifier circuit and a radio transmitter is provided. The circuit includes a first peak amplifier, where an input end of the first peak amplifier is connected to a first input end of the circuit, and a first mean amplifier, where an input end of the first mean amplifier is connected to a second input end of the circuit, and an output end of the first mean amplifier is connected to an input end of a first matching unit. The circuit also includes a second peak amplifier, where an input end of the second peak amplifier is connected to the first input end of the circuit; and a second mean amplifier, where an input end of the second mean amplifier is connected to the second input end of the circuit, and an output end of the second mean amplifier is connected to an input end of the second matching unit.
US09608565B2
The invention relates to an electric circuit of a generator of oscillations, comprising an enhancement-mode field transistor T1, inductance L1 and resistance R1 connected to the source or the drain of the transistor T1, characterized in that the inductance L1 is connected directly between the gate and the drain of the transistor T1 or to an electric circuit of a generator of oscillations, comprising an depletion-mode field transistor T1, inductance L1 and resistance R1 connected with its one end to the source of the transistor T1, characterized in that the inductance L1 is connected directly between the gate of the transistor T1 and the other end of the resistance R1.
US09608561B2
A power generation control apparatus (14) includes a solar cell controller (18) and a range determinator (20). The solar cell controller (18), while changing at least one of an operation current and an operation voltage serving as driving variables within a first range, calculates actual power generated by a solar cell (13). The solar cell controller (18) controls the solar cell (13) to generate power by using a driving variable that maximizes the generated power within the first range. The range determinator (20), based on maximum generated power and at least one of a rated PV curve or an approximation line of the rated PV curve and a rated PI curve or an approximation line of the rated PI curve, updates the first range.
US09608551B2
Technologies for reducing peak fault output current in a DC power generation system include a generator having a reduced damper winding and a controller to control a rectifier array to generate a DC power output. In some embodiments, the generator may have no damper windings, may have damper windings including a reduced number of damper bars, and/or may have damper windings having separated end ring mounts for each damper bar. The controller is configured to control the rectifier array so as to reduce oscillations of the DC output that may be due to the reduced damper windings. To do so, the controller is configured to generate the control signal based on an oscillation component of the DC power output. For example, the controller may generate an oscillation correction signal based on the DC power output and adjust a firing angle set point of the rectifier array based on the oscillation correction signal.
US09608549B2
Embodiments of electrostatic chucks are provided herein. In some embodiments, an electrostatic chuck for retaining a substrate includes a base plate, a ceramic plate, supported by the base plate, having a substrate supporting surface, a first plurality of electrodes disposed within the ceramic plate having a first polarity, and a second plurality of electrodes disposed within the ceramic plate having a second polarity opposite from the first polarity, wherein the first and second plurality of electrodes are independently controllable to provide a desired chucking power and frequency.
US09608548B2
A power generating device includes: a piezoelectric member that is formed from a piezoelectric material; one pair of electrodes that are installed to the piezoelectric member; a transformation unit that repeatedly transforms the piezoelectric member; an inductor that is installed between the one pair of electrodes and configures a resonance circuit together with a capacitive component of the piezoelectric member; a switch that is connected to the inductor in series; and a switch control unit that connects the switch when a transformation direction of the piezoelectric member is switched, and cuts off the switch when a time corresponding to a half period of a resonance period of the resonance circuit elapses.
US09608547B2
An apparatus for manipulating particles uses tunable standing surface acoustic waves includes a channel defined on a substrate and a pair of variable frequency interdigital transducers. The channel is disposed asymmetrically between the transducers such that the zero order node location is outside of a working region in the channel.
US09608546B2
An actuator includes a first deformable material layer, a second deformable material layer, and an intermediate layer provided between the first deformable material layer and the second deformable material layer. The first deformable material layer includes a first deformable material containing a first stimulus-responsive compound, which changes its molecular structure and also its color tone according to an oxidation-reduction reaction, a first polymeric material, a first electronically conductive substance having a light transmitting property, and a first electrolyte. The second deformable material layer includes a second deformable material containing a second stimulus-responsive compound, which changes its molecular structure and also its color tone according to an oxidation-reduction reaction, a second polymeric material, a second electronically conductive substance having a light transmitting property, and a second electrolyte. The intermediate layer inhibits electron transfer between the first deformable material layer and the second deformable material layer.
US09608545B1
Circuits and methods for driving a load are disclosed. An exemplary driving circuit may include a plurality of switching devices and a controller electrically connected to the plurality of switching devices. The controller may be configured to provide a switching signal for controlling switching operations of the switching devices. The controller may also be configured to determine whether the switching signal falls within a predetermined dead zone. When it is determined that the switching signal falls within the predetermined dead zone, the controller may be configured to modify the switching signal by moving a space vector corresponding to the switching signal to a boundary of the predetermined dead zone. In addition, the controller may be configured to provide the modified switching signal to the switching devices.
US09608540B2
The invention relates to a method (60) for controlling an inverter (10) using space-vector pulse width modulation, in particular to control an electric machine (14), said inverter (10) being equipped with a plurality of controllable switches (S) and being designed to provide a polyphase electric current (IU, IV, IW), in particular to supply multiphase electric current to an electric machine (14). In said method, a reference phase angle (alpha_R) is predefined, and the inverter (10) is controlled in such a way that a plurality of different successive switching states (V0-V7) is established for the switches (S) in order to provide the electric current (IU, IV, IW) in the form of a current space vector (I*). The inverter (10) is controlled in such a way that the current space vector (I*) is provided at a phase angle (alpha_I) which differs from the reference phase angle (alpha_R), a difference (delta_I) of the phase angle (alpha_I) from the reference phase angle (alpha_R) being determined according to a power loss (PA, PB, PC) and/or a temperature (TA, TB, TC) of at least one of the switches (S).
US09608534B2
A detection target voltage is divided by a voltage divider circuit wherein a large number of resistor circuits, each of which is formed by a plurality of resistors being connected in parallel, are connected in series, and the voltage is detected. The output of a multiple voltage detector circuit formed of an operational amplifier, and the like, connected to three arbitrary places in the voltage divider circuit is input into a CPU twice, when the switch is in an on-state and when it is in an off-state. The CPU, based on the two measured voltages, can determine that trouble has occurred when there is, for example, trouble such as a short circuit or disconnection of a resistor of the resistor circuits related to the places connected to the three places in the voltage divider circuit.
US09608533B2
An apparatus to control an amount of current delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load includes a line terminal configured to be connected to the AC power source, a load terminal configured to be connected to the electrical load, a controllably conductive power switch in series electrical connection between the line terminal and the load terminal, and a switching circuit configured to control a conductive state of the controllably conductive power switch wherein the switching circuit is configured to automatically detect at least one electrical characteristic.
US09608532B2
To maximize power efficiency, dead time between “on” times of a synchronous rectifier (“SR”) MOSFET switch and a main switch for CCM operation in particular in isolated and non-isolated self-driven synchronous DC-DC converters needs to be optimized. To accomplish that objective, the latest conduction time t of a body diode of the SR MOSFET following conduction thereof is determined, compared with a selected fixed optimum period T1, and incrementally or decrementally adjusted in a subsequent switching cycle while t is unequal to T1, depending on whether t is shorter or longer than T1, so that t eventually is made substantially equal to T1 in length. This process is to be repeated continuously.
US09608524B2
A power supply equipment includes a plurality of units each including a capacitor and an isolated DC-DC converter connected between the both terminals of the capacitor, wherein DC input sides of the plurality of units are connected in series and the DC output sides are connected together in parallel. The DC power supply equipment also comprises control circuits to control the isolated DC-DC converters. The control circuits generate operation commands to operate some of the plurality of units in an alternating sequence with a same time ratio in a predetermined control period in a light load condition, and the control circuits control the isolated DC-DC converters of the units according to the operation command.
US09608522B2
A boost converter circuit receives an input power supply voltage and produces an output boosted supply voltage. The circuit includes a voltage regulator, boosting circuitry, and a timing controller. The voltage regulator provides a regulated voltage to the boosting circuitry, which controls switching a transistor to drive the output boosted supply voltage; and the timing controller controls switching the boost circuit from the start-up mode to the normal operation mode. In start-up mode, the regulated voltage is generated from the input power supply voltage. During normal operation mode, the regulated voltage is generated from the output boosted supply voltage. The circuitry performs a low-power start-up when the input power supply voltage is low, and maintains efficient low-power operation by driving the transistor to produce the output boosted supply voltage as the input power supply voltage decreases.
US09608521B2
Provided is a DC/DC converter capable of operating a circuit to perform stable control even when an output voltage becomes 0 V at the time of activation of a power supply voltage or due to a load short circuit. The DC/DC converter includes an ON-timer circuit including: a ripple generation circuit configured to generate and output a ripple component based on a control signal; an averaging circuit configured to output a signal obtained by averaging an output of the ripple generation circuit; a timer circuit configured to generate and output an ON-time signal based on the signal of the averaging circuit and the control signal; and an activation circuit configured to increase a voltage of an output terminal of the ripple generation circuit to a predetermined voltage.
US09608510B2
A switching regulator uses an over voltage comparator to compare an envelop line signal with a reference wave signal, to detect whether the system is in an over voltage condition. The envelop line signal is indicative of a peak value of an inductor current.
US09608508B2
An integrated limiter and active filter constituted of: an input node; an output node; a transistor coupled between the input node and the output node; a first control circuit coupled to the control terminal of the transistor and arranged to limit the amount of current flowing through the output node to a predetermined value which is responsive to a signal received at a first reference input; a second control circuit coupled to the control terminal of the transistor and arranged to limit the voltage appearing at the output node to a predetermined value which is responsive to a signal received at a second reference input; and a third control circuit coupled to input node and arranged to provide the second reference input, the third control circuit arranged to set the second reference input responsive to the input voltage and to a predetermined maximum allowed output voltage.
US09608506B2
Embodiments described herein may take the form of an electromagnetic actuator that produces a haptic output during operation. Generally, an electromagnetic coil is wrapped around a central magnet array. A shaft passes through the central magnet array, such that the central array may move along the shaft when the proper force is applied. When a current passes through the electromagnetic coil, the coil generates a magnetic field. The coil is stationary with respect to a housing of the actuator, while the central magnet array may move along the shaft within the housing. Thus, excitation of the coil exerts a force on the central magnet array, which moves in response to that force. The direction of the current through the coil determines the direction of the magnetic field and thus the motion of the central magnet array.
US09608490B2
A compressor includes a casing, a compression mechanism arranged inside the casing, a motor arranged inside the casing, and an insulation sheet. The motor drives the compression mechanism. The motor is a concentrated-winding motor having a stator that has a plurality of teeth, and an insulator adjacent to the stator, with windings wound about the teeth with the insulator interposed between the windings and the teeth. The insulation sheet is arranged between the casing and crossover wires of the windings.
US09608483B2
An electrical machine has a stator-rotor configuration in which the rotor has at least two poles. The poles are configured to rotate in an angle and to electromagnetically interact with one or more teeth that is a part of a stator adjoined in a fixed position to the electrical machine. The configuration forms a gap in the lateral direction between the poles and the teeth. At least one of the poles is formed of a permanent magnet material and a magnetic flux intensifier is arranged relative to at least one of the poles and one of the teeth. The magnetic flux intensifier is configured to concentrate the magnetic field lines between a pole and the teeth.
US09608480B2
Embodiments are directed to detecting and identifying a type of a wireless power device in a wireless power transfer field. According to one aspect, a method for identifying a type of an object within a power transfer region of a wireless power transmitter configured to transfer power to a device including a wireless power receiver is provided. The method includes monitoring a change in a power drawn by the wireless power transmitter. The method further includes receiving, from the wireless power receiver, a signal indicative of a change in power received by the wireless power receiver. The method further includes identifying the type of the object based on the monitored change in the power drawn and the received signal.
US09608478B2
A system is provided for powering an optical network terminal, including a power adapter connected to the optical network terminal and configured to power the optical network terminal; and a battery tray, connected to the power adapter, configured to supply auxiliary power to the optical network terminal through the power adapter from one or more batteries contained within the battery tray, wherein the battery tray is configured to allow removal and replacement, at the customer premise, of the one or more batteries.
US09608477B1
There is provided an energy collection system comprising a first switching station electrically connected to a first set of one or more transformation units for receiving a first electrical power generated thereby; a second switching station electrically connected to a second set of one or more transformation units for receiving a second electrical power generated thereby; a sub-transmission station having a first primary electrical connection with the first switching station and a second primary electrical connection with the second switching station for receiving the first and second electrical powers; and a secondary electrical connection between the first and second switching stations; wherein the secondary electrical connection and the first and second primary electrical connections form, alone or using further connections, a closed-loop electrical circuit between the first switching station, the second switching station and the sub-transmission station. There is also provided a method of enhancing collection of electrical power in an energy collection system.
US09608474B2
A device for the inductive transmission of electrical energy, having at least one induction coil which is connected, or connectible, to a consumer and/or to a rechargeable battery, and having a communications device, which encompasses at least one control unit and is configured to modulate the load of the induction coil. It is provided that the communications device has a DC converter, whose output is connected or connectible to the consumer/the battery, and whose input is connected to the induction coil, the control unit controlling the DC converter for a load modulation.
US09608472B2
Some embodiments provide a system for charging devices. The system includes a master device and a slave device. Some embodiments provide a method for charging devices in a system that includes a slave device and a master device. The slave device includes (1) an antenna to receive a radio frequency (RF) beam and (2) a power generation module connected to the antenna that converts RF energy received by the slave antenna to power. The master device includes (1) a directional antenna to direct RF power to the antenna of the slave device and (2) a module that provides power to the directional antenna of the master device.
US09608469B2
A wireless power transmitting device including a signal processing unit, a wireless transceiver, and a controller. The controller is configured to control a detection signal for detecting an external device to be transmitted via a wireless power transmitter, and if an authentication request signal is received from the external device in response to the detection signal, control an authentication response signal including an ID (Identification) assigned to the external device, and further, if a power profile signal including power amount information of the external terminal and change information indicating whether the power amount information is changed is received from the external terminal, control an allocation signal including wireless power allocation information indicating an allocated slot, determined based on the power amount information, to the external terminal.
US09608468B2
ECU executes program including the steps of turning on an overcharge tentative determination flag and performing limitation on Win in a case where a rising rate ΔTB is higher than or equal to ΔTB(0), and a current average value IBs is a value on a side of charging, and the steps of turning off the overcharge tentative determination flag and cancelling the limitation on Win in a case where the rising rate ΔTB is lower than or equal to ΔTB(1), or the current average value IBs exhibits a value on a side of discharging, and the steps of determining that a battery is in the overcharging state and executing a fail safe process in a case where the integrated value IBs of current from a time point at which the overcharge tentative determination flag is switched from an off-state to an on-state becomes greater than or equal to IBs(0).
US09608464B2
A battery system including a battery unit including a plurality of battery cells, and a control device including a power supply boot-up unit. The power supply boot-up unit is configured to receive a voltage from the plurality of battery cells, and supply a control signal in response to the voltage supplied by the plurality of battery cells.
US09608456B2
A method for determining the self-discharge current of a lithium-ion battery provided with a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and an electrolyte arranged between the positive and negative electrodes includes charging the battery until a metal lithium layer is formed between the electrolyte and the negative electrode, measuring the open-circuit voltage of the battery at two moments, and determining the self-discharge current from the variation of the voltage measured between the two moments.
US09608454B2
A method and a system for self-regulating wireless power transmitted to a wireless power receiver (WPR) are provided. An auto-tuning network is operably coupled within the WPR. The auto-tuning network includes an impedance network that dynamically increases, decreases, or maintains an amount of the received wirelessly transmitted power by detecting changes in a rectifier load disposed in the WPR and/or in a rectifier output voltage in the WPR. The auto-tuning network self-regulates the wireless power received from a wireless power transmitter (WPT) obviating the need for conventional communication messages. The WPT is hence free from a modulator/demodulator block and an out-of-band communication block and operates over a limited operating range to enable a simpler design for passing electromagnetic compliance regulations. The WPR implements a receiver-maximum-power-signature algorithm for enabling the WPT to detect unsupported receivers, configure its operating point and range, and terminate power transmission when not needed by the WPR.
US09608453B2
There is provided a power transmitting apparatus including: a power supply, a power transmitting inductor, a mutual coupling adjusting unit and a control unit, in which the power supply supplies AC power, the power transmitting inductor transfers the AC power to a power receiving apparatus through magnetic coupling with a power receiving inductor in the power receiving apparatus, the mutual coupling adjusting unit adjusts a relative position between the power transmitting inductor and the power receiving inductor, and the control unit controls the mutual coupling adjusting unit, based on a mutual coupling coefficient between the power transmitting inductor and the power receiving inductor.
US09608449B2
Provided is a power system that can arbitrarily set output power while stabilizing output voltages. Connection terminals 13 and 23 of lower power sources 1 and 2 are connected to external connection terminals 41 in parallel. Voltage measurement section 31 measures voltage values of external connection terminals 41 as measured voltage values. Power converters 12 and 22 measure power supply capacities of lower power sources 1 and 2, respectively. Output instruction section 32 adjusts power or currents flowing through connection terminals 13 and 23 based on the measured voltage values and the power supply capacities so that the measured voltage values are included in a predetermined voltage range.
US09608446B2
A method and apparatus for controlling energy supply to energy consuming devices are provided. The method includes acquiring a first amount of energy to be used in at least one energy consuming device, determining the amount of energy stored in an energy storage, and optionally transmitting an energy supply request message to an energy supplier based on the amount of energy to be consumed in an energy consuming device and the amount of stored energy.
US09608434B2
An inverter apparatus includes a direct current to direct current converter (DC/DC converter), a direct current to alternating current converter (DC/AC converter), a primary-side control circuit and a secondary-side control circuit. The DC/DC converter is arranged for outputting a first DC power and a second DC power. The DC/AC converter is coupled to the DC/DC converter, and is arranged for receiving the first DC power. The primary-side control circuit is coupled to the DC/DC converter, and is arranged for controlling an operation of the DC/DC converter. The secondary-side control circuit is coupled to the DC/DC converter and the DC/AC converter, and is arranged for receiving the second DC power, and controlling an operation of the DC/AC converter according to the second DC power.
US09608425B2
Among other things, a spacer unit for spacing apart a bundle of cables is provided. The spacer unit comprises two or more spacer assemblies which are adjustable to provide for various sized bundle configurations and/or to provide for various degrees of spacing. Respective spacer assemblies comprise a housing apparatus and a modular frame. The housing apparatus couples to a clamping arm that clamps to a cable. The modular frame allows the spacer assembly to be coupled to other spacer assemblies to vary a configuration of a spacing unit, and is configured for selective rotation relative to the housing apparatus to facilitate altering a shape of the spacer assembly.
US09608420B1
A utility component mounting assembly configured to be assembled and installed during building construction or remodeling and to provide access to a variety of residential, commercial, and/or industrial utilities in a manner that is unobtrusive and aesthetically appealing. In some aspects, the utility component mounting assembly is assembled and installed such that there is little or no outward protrusion of any portion of the assembly from a generally planar wall surface. The assembly provides the ability to apply the same final finishing materials to exposed portions of the assembly as to adjacent wall material. The assembly can be readily installed with existing building constructions materials, tools, and skills. The assembly can be mounted in flexible locations on a wall and in a vertical or horizontal orientation.
US09608414B2
The inventive rack positioning assembly for an electric panel comprises a vertical busbar (J2) for distributing electric current to electric appliances, said busbar comprising several bars, which are positioned in a same vertical plane and on which it is provided to connect racks of the electric panel, and several rack positioning modules (20), which are positioned above one another and which surround the bars of the vertical busbar. The positioning modules (20) comprise means (50) for increasing the insulation distance between the bars at the interface between two successive modules, that insulation distance corresponding to the length of the electric creep path between the bars.
US09608412B2
A spark plug, including a central electrode, a first ground electrode, which is situated in a curved shape having a horizontal area and an essentially vertical area, and at least one second ground electrode, which is situated adjacent to the central electrode in such a way that a distance between the first ground electrode and the central electrode is less than a distance between the second ground electrode and the central electrode.
US09608408B2
An improved longwave infrared quantum cascade laser. The improvement includes a strained InxGa1-xAs/AlyIn1-yAs composition, with x and y each between 0.53 and 1, an active region emitting at a wavelength equal to or greater than 8 μm, an energy spacing E54 equal to or greater than 50 meV, an energy spacing EC4 equal to or greater than 250 meV, and an optical waveguide with a cladding layer on each side of the active region. Each cladding layer has a doping level of about 2·1016 cm−3. The optical waveguide also has a top InP layer with a doping level of about 5·1016 cm−3 and a bottom InP layer with a doping level of about 5 1016 cm−3. Additionally, the optical waveguide has a plasmon layer with a doping level of about 8·1018 cm−3.
US09608404B2
A constant current control power supply of an embodiment of the present invention includes a switching regulator that includes a switching circuit having a switching device and a rectifier device, a smoothing circuit having reactors and capacitors, a current detection circuit, and a control circuit, for outputting a constant current in accordance with a command value from a controller. When ON indicates a case where the command value commands an output of a higher current than a predetermined value and OFF indicates a case where the command value commands an output of a lower current than the predetermined value, on condition that a pulse operation alternating between the ON and the OFF is inputted, the control circuit amplifies a variation in the command value by a predetermined amplification factor and adds the amplified variation to the command value, and attenuates the added variation with a predetermined time constant.
US09608400B2
A laser device, includes: a laser light generating unit generates laser lights with first and second wavelengths; an amplifying unit amplifies the lights with first and second wavelengths the first and the second amplified lights; a wavelength converting unit that generates a light output, either of first converted light wavelength conversion of the first amplified light and the second amplified light, or of the first converted light and the second converted light wavelength conversion of the second amplified light; and a control unit that controls operation of the laser light generating unit, wherein: the control unit controls an output condition of the light output by adjusting a temporal overlap, of the first converted light and the second amplified light, or the first and second converted lights, through control of relative timings of the laser light with the first and second wavelengths.
US09608393B2
A repeater includes two connectors to each of which a communication cable is connected and a circuit board on which the two connectors are mounted and which includes a signal transmission section configured to connect corresponding ones of electrodes of the two connectors together, and the two connectors are mounted on different surfaces of the circuit board such that the communication cables are inserted in opposite insertion directions.
US09608385B2
A connection structure of an electronic component and terminal metal fittings includes a relay in which a plurality of terminals are projected from a relay body having a rectangular parallelepiped shape, terminal metal fittings that are fitted in the respective terminals, and a holding member in which the relay and the terminal metal fittings are accommodated. The holding member has a component body accommodating portion that accommodates the relay body, terminal accommodating portions each accommodating the distal end portion of corresponding one of the terminals and corresponding one of the terminal metal fittings, a groove portion that positions an erroneous-insertion prevention projecting portion therein when the relay is inserted in a normal orientation, and a contact portion that is brought into contact with the erroneous-insertion prevention projecting portion when the relay is inserted in an erroneous orientation.
US09608383B2
An electrical assembly has a lead frame with a plurality of elongated conductor sets and an insulative housing. Each conductor set has two differential signal pair conductors between a first ground conductor and a second ground conductor. A slot extends through the insulative housing and at least partially exposes the first ground conductor of a first conductor set and the second ground conductor of a second conductor set. A first ground shield has a first tab bent inward that extends into the slot from a first side of the lead frame. A second ground shield has second tab bent inward that extends into the slot from a second side of the lead frame. A conductive medium is provided in the slot to electrically connect the first tab, the second tab, the first ground conductor and the second ground conductor.
US09608382B2
A header transition connector includes a header housing having a separating wall separating a first cavity from a second cavity. Header signal contacts are held by the header housing. The header signal contacts are arranged in pairs carrying differential signals. The header signal contacts have first mating ends in the first cavity for mating with a first receptacle connector. The header signal contacts have second mating ends in the second cavity for mating with a second receptacle connector. Header ground shields are held by the header housing. The header ground shields have first mating ends in the first cavity for mating with the first receptacle connector. The header ground shields have second mating ends in the second cavity for mating with the second receptacle connector. At least a group of the header ground shields are electrically commoned with each other within the header housing.
US09608378B2
Methods and systems for providing crosstalk compensation in a jack are disclosed. According to one method, the crosstalk compensation is adapted to compensate for undesired crosstalk generated at a capacitive coupling located at a plug inserted within the jack. The method includes positioning a first capacitive coupling a first time delay away from the capacitive coupling of the plug, the first capacitive coupling having a greater magnitude and an opposite polarity as compared to the capacitive coupling of the plug. The method also includes positioning a second capacitive coupling at a second time delay from the first capacitive coupling, the second time delay corresponding to an average time delay that optimizes near end crosstalk. The second capacitive coupling has generally the same overall magnitude but an opposite polarity as compared to the first capacitive coupling, and includes two capacitive elements spaced at different time delays from the first capacitive coupling.
US09608364B2
A circuit board that is to be mounted in a connector socket includes a plurality of electrical connectors located along a side edge of the circuit board. Retention bosses are formed on first and second opposite sides of the circuit board, each of the retention bosses protruding from a surface of the circuit board and extending parallel to and adjacent to the first edge of the circuit board. When the first edge of the circuit board is inserted into a slot of a connector socket, contact surfaces of the first and second retention bosses contact top surfaces of the connector socket to help immobilize the circuit board with respect to the connector socket. Adhesive layers on the contact surfaces of the first and second retention bosses may adhere to the top surfaces of the connector socket to help hold the circuit board immobile with respect to the connector socket.
US09608358B2
An electronic device may include a housing that may include an opening formed on an outer surface and a space fluidly communicating with the opening, at least one electronic element which is disposed in the space, and at least one terminal which is disposed on the outer surface of the housing and is electrically connected with the at least one electronic element.
US09608353B1
A conductive terminal is provided which includes a base unit, two elastic contact pieces, a tail unit and two contact plates. The base unit includes a bottom plate extending along a front-rear direction and two side plates integrally extending upwardly from a left and right sides of the bottom plate respectively. The two elastic contact pieces are arranged side by side, each elastic contact piece comprises a connecting portion bent upwardly from a front end of the bottom plate, an arm portion extending rearwardly from the connecting portion, positioned above the bottom plate and spaced apart from the bottom plate, and a first contact portion positioned at a rear end of the arm portion. The tail unit is connected to a rear end of the bottom plate. The two contact plates are respectively bent from two upper edges of two front ends of the two side plates toward each other.
US09608343B2
A coaxial connector junction includes first and second coaxial connectors. The first coaxial connector includes: a first central conductor extension; a first outer conductor extension spaced apart from and circumferentially surrounding the first central conductor extension; and a first dielectric spacer interposed between the first central conductor extension and the first outer conductor extension. The second coaxial connector includes: a second central conductor extension; a second outer conductor extension spaced apart from and circumferentially surrounding the second central conductor extension; and a second dielectric spacer interposed between the second central conductor extension and the second outer conductor extension. Each of the central conductor extensions and the outer conductor extensions has circular symmetry about the longitudinal axis, such that electrical properties of the engaged first and second coaxial connectors are substantially the same irrespective of the relative orientations of the first and second coaxial connectors about the longitudinal axis.
US09608342B2
A plug (1), socket (30) and connection apparatus for making an electrical connection. The plug (1) can hold a wire (20) and be received within a socket (30) having a conductor (37) and sealant (39), for making a waterproof electrical connection. The plug (1) comprises a plug body (2) and a passage (7) extending axially within the plug body (2) for receiving a wire (20), wherein the plug body (2) is configurable in a first wire-receiving configuration so that a wire can be placed within the passage (7) and a second clamping configuration so that the plug body (2) can clamp to and retain the wire (20) within the passage (7) when received within the socket (30).
US09608340B2
The invention relates to a method for connecting an electric component to an electrical component support and an electrical component for an electrical component support, in particular for a motor vehicle. According to the invention, an electric component is connected to an electrical component support which comprises a base part and an electrical conductor paths arranged therein. At least one electric contact connected to the electrical component is moved in the base part such that the electric contact is electrically connected to the conductor path. The invention also relates to two electric contacts which are connected to the electric components and which are connected, according to the claims, to two different conductor paths in the base part. Said electric components can comprise more than two electric contacts, which according to the claimed method, are connected to the conductor paths of the base part.
US09608339B2
A sheath (4) of an aluminum electric wire (1) is peeled, a distal end of an exposed conductor part (2) is tightened and connected after being placed in a conductor crimping part (13) of a crimped terminal (10) while being recessed to be further inside than the distal end of the conductor crimping part (13), and the distal end section of the conductor crimping part (13) of the crimped terminal (10) which forms an empty space where there is not the conductor part is welded and sealed.
US09608330B2
A superluminal antenna element integrates a balun element to better impedance match an input cable or waveguide to a dielectric radiator element, thus preventing stray reflections and consequent undesirable radiation. For example, a dielectric housing material can be used that has a cutout area. A cable can extend into the cutout area. A triangular conductor can function as an impedance transition. An additional cylindrical element functions as a sleeve balun to better impedance match the radiator element to the cable.
US09608326B2
A circularly polarized isolated magnetic dipole (CP-IMD) antenna includes: a first isolated magnetic dipole (IMD) element; a second IMD element positioned adjacent to the first IMD element; a third IMD element positioned adjacent to the second IMD element and configured to oppose the first IMD element; a fourth IMD element disposed positioned adjacent to each of the first and third IMD elements and configured to oppose the second IMD element; and a feed network configured to supply signals to the first thru fourth IMD elements at a phase difference of ninety degrees in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction.
US09608321B2
A radome having localized areas of reduced radio signal attenuation includes a body having a first portion and a second portion. The first portion has a reduced radio signal attenuation property in a transmit band and a second portion has a reduced radio signal attenuation property in a reception band.
US09608317B2
A spiral antenna device includes a plurality of generally polygonal loops. The polygonal loops have respective side counts that decrease progressively as a function of the loop's radial distance from a center of the antenna device. The side count may vary between loops as a multiple of a power of two.
US09608316B2
A printed circuit board (PCB) is disposed to stand vertically on a main board and having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. A main antenna pattern is formed on the first surface of the PCB to operate in dual band including a low frequency band and a high frequency band. A bandwidth extension pattern is formed on the second surface of the PCB and formed to operate in the high frequency band, the bandwidth extension pattern having a coupling stub which forms an overlapping portion with a portion of the main antenna pattern, with the PCB interposed therebetween, to implement an antenna having an extended bandwidth, which operates together with the portion of the main antenna pattern in the high frequency band.
US09608306B1
An antenna mount for mounting radio antennas on a communications tower is described. The antenna mount includes a ring structure that encircles the tower and includes a channel disposed about its outer perimeter. The channel is configured to receive a plurality of antenna carriages upon which antennas are mounted on a first end. A second end of the antenna carriage is disposed in the channel and is slideably movable along the length of the channel about the perimeter of the ring structure. The antenna is thus aimable in any desired azimuthal direction by moving the antenna along the ring structure. Bands for communication of data, power, control signaling, and propulsion of the antenna carriages about the ring structure are disposed in the channel. The ring structure may include a junction that allows reorientation of antennas with respect to one another.
US09608305B2
A circuit includes a current sensing circuit comprising a current input terminal coupled to an input port, a current output terminal coupled to a transmitted port, and a current sensing output terminal configured to provide a current sensing signal proportional to a current flowing between the current input terminal and the current output terminal. The circuit further includes a voltage sensing circuit having a voltage input terminal coupled to the transmitted port and a voltage sensing output terminal configured to provide a voltage sensing signal proportional to a voltage at the transmitted port. A combining circuit has a first input coupled to the current sensing output terminal, a second input coupled to the voltage sensing output terminal, and a combined output node coupled to an output port.
US09608286B2
Pipelines are used for charging and discharging power in a redox flow battery (RFB). Inner tube made of ion-exchange material is inserted into each of the pipelines. Conductive sleeves are installed on inside and outside the inner tube. Anode electrolyte and cathode electrolyte flow into corresponding ones of the pipelines of the inner tube. Thereby, wires connected with the conductive sleeves are extended out to be used as electrodes. On charging power, the anode electrolyte and the cathode electrolyte flow forwardly; yet, on discharging power, the anode electrolyte and the cathode electrolyte flow backwardly. Thus, the present invention uses pipelines to add or supplement function of charging/discharging power. Even when the RFB is damaged or failed, power is still charged/discharged for effectively improving or ensuring efficiency of the battery.
US09608270B2
The present invention relates to a method for preparing a lithium iron phosphate nanopowder, including the steps of (a) preparing a mixture solution by adding a lithium precursor, an iron precursor and a phosphorus precursor in a reaction solvent, and (b) putting the mixture solution into a reactor and heating to prepare the lithium iron phosphate nanopowder under pressure conditions of 1 to 10 bar, and a lithium iron phosphate nanopowder prepared by the method. When compared to a common hydrothermal synthesis method, a supercritical hydrothermal synthesis method and a glycothermal synthesis method, a reaction may be performed under a relatively lower pressure. Thus, a high temperature/high pressure reactor is not necessary and process safety and economic feasibility may be secured. In addition, a lithium iron phosphate nanopowder having uniform particle size and effectively controlled particle size distribution may be easily prepared.
US09608265B2
Disclosed are a precursor of a positive active material for a rechargeable lithium battery and a preparation method thereof, and a positive active material and a rechargeable lithium battery including the same, and specifically a precursor for a rechargeable lithium battery is represented by the following Chemical Formula 1, wherein a manganese ion concentration deviation in the precursor is within 3 wt %. NixCoyMn1−x−y−zMz(OH)2 [Chemical Formula 1] (0
US09608263B2
The present invention relates to methods for producing anode materials for use in nonaqueous electrolyte secondary batteries. In the present invention, a metal-semiconductor alloy layer is formed on an anode material by contacting a portion of the anode material with a solution containing metals ions and a dissolution component. When the anode material is contacted with the solution, the dissolution component dissolves a part of the semiconductor material in the anode material and deposit the metal on the anode material. After deposition, the anode material and metal are annealed to form a uniform metal-semiconductor alloy layer. The anode material of the present invention can be in a monolithic form or a particle form. When the anode material is in a particle form, the particulate anode material can be further shaped and sintered to agglomerate the particulate anode material.
US09608253B2
A lead-acid battery terminal member includes: a terminal portion which is arranged in a resin-made cover for closing a container; and a cylindrical bushing which is connected to the terminal portion through a conducting portion. The bushing is embedded in the cover, and has a plurality of annular projecting portions formed on an outer periphery thereof. Poles extending from an electrode group arranged in the container are inserted into and are welded to the bushing. Surface roughness of a surface of the annular projecting portion which faces a resin forming the cover in an opposed manner is lower than surface roughness of a surface of a portion other than the annular projecting portion.
US09608245B2
A battery module includes a housing configured to receive a plurality of electrochemical cells, a skeletal frame coupled with the housing, and a framework disposed proximate to the skeletal frame. Moreover, the framework is substantially aligned with the skeletal frame and configured to transfer a force applied to the framework to the skeletal frame.
US09608243B2
There is provided an electronic device includes a detachable battery pack from a casing; and a battery pack loading section in which the battery pack is loaded. The battery pack loading section includes a battery receiving surface that receives a battery and a peripheral wall that is formed at the peripheral edge of the battery receiving surface and faces the side surface of the battery. A connector to be connected to a battery terminal of the battery pack is disposed on the peripheral wall. A raised portion that is raised toward the battery pack is formed on the battery receiving surface and on the peripheral wall in the battery pack loading section. The battery pack has an elastic sealing member surrounding the battery terminal at a portion in contact with the raised portion in a manner disposed in the battery pack loading section.
US09608231B2
Provided is a display apparatus. The display apparatus includes a display panel, a back cover disposed on a rear side of the display panel, the back cover having a curved shape of which both ends protrude forward, and a fixing part fixing the back cover to maintain the curved shape of the back cover. The display panel is curved in a shape corresponding to that of the back cover.
US09608228B2
An organic light-emitting device includes an internal light extraction layer including a scattering layer and a smooth layer; and a transparent electrode including an underlying layer and an electrode layer, wherein the transparent electrode is provided on the smooth layer side of the internal light extraction layer, the internal light extraction layer has a refractive index in the range of 1.7 to less than 2.5, and the electrode layer includes silver or an alloy including silver as a main component.
US09608226B2
A method for forming a transparent electrode includes a step of forming a thin metal wire on a transparent substrate; and a step of forming a transparent conductive layer on the transparent substrate and the thin metal wire. The step of forming the transparent conductive layer is a step of forming the transparent conductive layer by applying an application liquid onto the transparent substrate and the thin metal wire by printing. The application liquid is composed of a conductive polymer, a water-soluble binder having a structural unit represented by the following general formula (I), a polar solvent having a log P value of −1.50 to −0.45, and 5.0 to 25 mass % of a glycol ether.
US09608225B2
A light emitting device may include a first electrode on a substrate, a first emission layer on the first electrode, a buffer layer on the first emission layer, a middle electrode on the buffer layer, a second emission layer on the middle electrode, and a second electrode on the second emission layer. The buffer layer may include a material selected from the group consisting of a metal oxide, a polyelectrolyte, and a combination thereof. The first emission layer, buffer layer, middle electrode, and second emission layer may be fabricated using a wet process.
US09608222B2
A light-emitting element is provided, including a first electrode and a second electrode, a first layer including first and second organic compounds, the first layer being formed between the first electrode and the second electrode wherein the first organic compound is capable of emitting a first light and the second organic compound has an electron transporting property, and a second layer including third and fourth organic compounds, the second layer being formed between the first layer and the second electrode wherein the third organic compound is capable of emitting a second light and has an electron trap property and the fourth organic compound has an electron transporting property.
US09608190B2
The invention provides a thermoelectric conversion material having a low thermal conductivity and an improved figure of merit and a production method for the material, and also provides a thermoelectric conversion module. The thermoelectric conversion material has, on a porous substrate having microscopic pores, a thermoelectric semiconductor layer formed of a thermoelectric semiconductor material, wherein the porous substrate has a polymer layer (B) on a plastic film (A) and the microscopic pores are formed in the polymer layer (B) and in a part of the plastic film (A). The production method for the thermoelectric conversion material comprises a substrate formation step of forming a porous substrate including a step 1, a step 2 and a step 3, and comprises a film formation step of forming a thermoelectric semiconductor layer through film formation of a thermoelectric semiconductor material on the porous substrate. The thermoelectric conversion module uses the thermoelectric conversion material.
US09608181B2
Opto-electronic modules include masking features that can help reduce the visibility of interior components or enhance the outer appearance of the module or of an appliance incorporating the module as a component. The modules can include an optical diode or saturable optical absorber.
US09608177B2
Provided are a light emitting device package in which lens tilting is prevented to reduce luminance and color deviations and a backlight unit having the same. The light emitting device package includes an encapsulation material disposed on a substrate to surround a light emitting device and a guide member disposed on the encapsulation material to guide an assembly path of a lens. The guide member includes a first inclined surface having a first inclination to guide a light incident part of the lens and a second inclined surface having a second inclination greater than the first inclination to further guide the light incident part of the lens.
US09608174B2
[PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED] To provide a method and apparatus for applying a coating material that reacts at ordinary temperatures and increases in viscosity with lapse of time or a coating material that is difficult to handle, such as an unstable slurry in which sedimentation occurs at high rate, to a high-value-added object to be coated.[SOLUTION] Before at least applying coating material to an object to be coated, the coating amount is automatically measured using a highly-accurate measuring device set in an atmosphere that does not substantially affect the measurement to control the coating amount during production. Therefore, high-quality products can be mass-produced with a low production cost.
US09608173B2
The invention relates to reducing effect of light that is emitted from a light-emitting element and then enters between a base and a frame member. A light-emitting device (1) includes a base (11), a frame member (12) and a light-emitting element (13). The light-emitting device (1) further includes an intervening layer (14). The frame member (12) is disposed on the base (11). The light-emitting element (13) is made of a semiconductor material. The light-emitting element (13) is disposed in a region defined by the frame member (12), and mounted on the base (11). The intervening layer (14) contains a plurality of light transmitting particles (14-2) and is disposed between the base (11) and the frame member (12).
US09608170B2
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor light emitting element includes providing a semiconductor stacked layer body; forming an insulating layer on a portion of the semiconductor stacked layer body; forming a light-transmissive electrode covering an upper surface of the semiconductor stacked layer body and an upper surface of the insulating layer, and on a region at least partially overlapping a region for disposing an extending portion in a plan view; forming a light reflecting layer in each of the openings of the light-transmissive electrode; forming a protective layer on a main surface side of the semiconductor stacked layer body; forming a mask on an upper surface of the protective layer except for the region for forming the pad electrode; etching the protective layer to form an opening in the protective layer; and forming a pad electrode in the opening of the protective layer.
US09608168B2
Exemplary embodiments provide a light emitting diode that includes: at least one lower electrode providing a passage for electric current; a light emitting structure placed over the at least one lower electrode to be electrically connected to the lower electrode, the light emitting structure is disposed to form at least one via-hole; a reflective electrode layer placed between the at least one lower electrode and the light emitting structure; and an electrode pattern formed around the light emitting structure and electrically connecting the lower electrode to the light emitting structure through the via-hole.
US09608157B2
A radiation detector (10) includes a semiconductor element (1) for generating positive holes and electrons, a cathode (2) formed on a first surface of the semiconductor element (1) and a plurality of segmented anodes (3) formed on a second surface of the semiconductor element (1), the second surface being in opposed relation to the first surface. Additionally, a plurality of segmented steering electrodes (5a) are positioned adjacent the plurality of segmented anodes (3). Moreover, a plurality of doping atoms are located above at least a portion of the plurality of segmented anodes (3) for reducing the voltage difference between the plurality of segmented anodes (3) and the plurality of segmented steering electrodes (5a).
US09608155B1
The invention includes a parabolic solar concentrator typified by a highly integrated structure whereby, mirror, aerodynamic elements, a shell structure, cooling elements and other elements have been integrated to form a unibody structure, which is both stiffer and lighter than traditional trough structures. The invention includes; aerodynamic features that greatly limit lift forces induced by high speed winds, a receiver with liquid cooling for better control of PV cell temperatures and which allows for the collection of the heat for beneficial use, accommodations for a solar tracker, and improvements in the focusing and distribution of light using secondary mirrors. The receiver incorporates specific details to improve heat transfer and reduce parasitic pumping loads and incorporates secondary mirrors to increase light acceptance angles. Automated mirror washing is addressed. In applications where the heat is un-utilized the integrated radiator is employed to dissipate the heat using both convection and radiation heat transfer.
US09608154B2
A solar cell module is discussed. The solar cell module includes a plurality of solar cells each including a plurality of first current collectors and a plurality of second current collectors, a first protective layer positioned on incident surfaces of the solar cells, a transparent member positioned on the first protective layer, and a conductive pattern part positioned on non-incident surfaces of the plurality of solar cells. The conductive pattern part includes a first pattern having a plurality of first protrusions connected to first current collectors of one solar cell and a second pattern having a plurality of second protrusions connected to second current collectors of the one solar cell. The plurality of first current collectors and the plurality of second current collectors are positioned on a surface of each solar cell on which light is not incident.
US09608152B2
The present invention relates to a solar cell encapsulant sheet comprising at least one ethylene-based resin selected from the group consisting of an ethylene-α-olefin copolymer, an ethylene homopolymer and an ethylene-unsaturated ester copolymer, 0.001 parts by mass to 5 parts by mass of at least one compound selected from the group consisting of silicon dioxide and zeolite, and 0.001 parts by mass to 5 parts by mass of a silane coupling agent, relative to 100 parts by mass of the ethylene-based resin respectively.
US09608150B2
A photoelectric converting apparatus has first and third semiconductor layers of a first conductivity type which respectively output signals obtained by photoelectric conversion, and second and fourth semiconductor layers of a second conductivity type supplied with potentials from a potential supplying unit. In the photoelectric converting apparatus, the first, second, third and fourth semiconductor layers are arranged in sequence, the second and fourth semiconductor layers are electrically separated from each other, and the potential to be supplied to the second semiconductor layer and the potential to be supplied to the fourth semiconductor layer are controlled independently from each other.
US09608149B2
This solar cell module (1) comprises a plurality of solar cell arrays (11). Each solar cell array (11) includes a plurality of spherical semiconductor elements (20) arranged in a row, at least a pair of bypass diodes (40), and a pair of lead members (14) that connect the plurality of spherical semiconductor elements (20) and the plurality of bypass diodes (40) in parallel. Each of the lead members (14) includes one or plural lead strings (15) to which the plurality of spherical semiconductor elements (20) are electrically connected and having a width less than or equal to the radius of the spherical semiconductor element (20), and plural lead pieces (16) formed integrally with the lead strings (15) at least at both end portions of the lead member (14), on which the bypass diodes (40) are electrically connected in reverse parallel to the spherical semiconductor elements (20), and having width larger than or equal to the width of the bypass diodes (40).
US09608143B2
The composition for forming an n-type diffusion layer in accordance with the present invention contains a glass powder and a dispersion medium, in which the glass powder includes an donor element and a total amount of the life time killer element in the glass powder is 1000 ppm or less. An n-type diffusion layer and a photovoltaic cell having an n-type diffusion layer are prepared by applying the composition for forming an n-type diffusion layer, followed by a thermal diffusion treatment.
US09608138B2
In the solar cell module including a plurality of solar cells interconnected with wiring members, each of the solar cells includes a plurality of front-side finger electrodes that are disposed on a light-receiving surface of the solar cell and connected with tabs and a plurality of rear-side finger electrodes that are disposed on a rear surface of the solar cell and connected with tabs. Rear-side auxiliary electrode sections are arranged in regions, which is wider than the front-side finger electrodes, on the rear surface opposite to regions where the front-side finger electrodes are present.
US09608137B2
A composition for solar cell electrodes includes a conductive powder, a glass frit, an organic vehicle and a thixotropic agent, and has a first thixotropic index (TI I) of about 1.5 to about 4 as represented by the following Equation 1, and a second thixotropic index (TI II) of about 4 to about 8 as represented by the following Equation 2, both the first thixotropic index and the second thixotropic index being measured at 23° C. by a rotary viscometer. [Equation 1] TI I=(viscosity at 1 rpm/viscosity at 10 rpm) [Equation 2] TI II=(viscosity at 10 rpm/viscosity at 100 rpm).
US09608136B2
A composition for solar cell electrodes includes a conductive powder, a glass frit, an organic vehicle and a thixotropic agent, and has a first thixotropic index (TI I) of about 1.5 to about 4 as represented by the following Equation 1, and a second thixotropic index (TI II) of about 4 to about 8 as represented by the following Equation 2, both the first thixotropic index and the second thixotropic index being measured at 23° C. by a rotary viscometer. [Equation 1] TI I=(viscosity at 1 rpm/viscosity at 10 rpm) [Equation 2] TI II=(viscosity at 10 rpm/viscosity at 100 rpm).
US09608128B2
A method for producing a body (1) consisting of doped semiconductor material having a defined mean free path length (lambda n) for free charge carriers (CP), and a mean free path length (lambda r) for the free charge carriers (CP) which is smaller than the defined mean free path length (lambda n) is disclosed. An epitactic crystal layer (20) consisting of doped semiconductor material is produced on a substrate crystal (10) consisting of semiconductor material having the defined mean free path length (lambda n), said crystal layer having, at least locally, a mean free path length (lambda r) for the free charge carriers (CP) which is smaller than the defined mean free path length (lambda n). The body (1) can also be produced by joining two crystal bodies (10′, 10″) consisting of doped semiconductor material.
US09608123B2
In a semiconductor device including a transistor in which an oxide semiconductor layer, a gate insulating layer, and a gate electrode layer on side surfaces of which sidewall insulating layers are provided are stacked in this order, a source electrode layer and a drain electrode layer are provided in contact with the oxide semiconductor layer and the sidewall insulating layers. In a process for manufacturing the semiconductor device, a conductive layer and an interlayer insulating layer are stacked to cover the oxide semiconductor layer, the sidewall insulating layers, and the gate electrode layer. Then, parts of the interlayer insulating layer and the conductive layer over the gate electrode layer are removed by a chemical mechanical polishing method, so that a source electrode layer and a drain electrode layer are formed. Before formation of the gate insulating layer, cleaning treatment is performed on the oxide semiconductor layer.
US09608118B2
An array substrate, a display device and a method of producing the array substrate are provided, and the array substrate includes a substrate and a thin film field effect transistor and a data line formed on the substrate, and the thin film field effect transistor includes a gate electrode, an active layer, a source electrode and a drain electrode, a gate insulating layer is formed between the gate electrode and the active layer, and the array substrate includes: a protection layer formed between the gate insulating layer and the data line and being in direct contact with the data line; and the protection layer is provided on the same layer with and has the same material with the active layer.
US09608117B2
A semiconductor device includes an active fin structure extending in a first direction, the active fin structure including protruding portions divided by a recess, a plurality of gate structures extending in a second direction crossing the first direction and covering the protruding portions of the active fin structure, a first epitaxial pattern in a lower portion of the recess between the gate structures, a second epitaxial pattern on a portion of the first epitaxial pattern, the second epitaxial pattern contacting a sidewall of the recess, and a third epitaxial pattern on the first and second epitaxial patterns, the third epitaxial pattern filling the recess. The first epitaxial pattern includes a first impurity region having a first doping concentration, the second epitaxial pattern includes a second impurity region having a second doping concentration lower than the a first doping concentration, and the third epitaxial pattern includes a third impurity region having a third doping concentration higher than the second doping concentration. The semiconductor device may have good electrical characteristics.
US09608116B2
A device includes isolation regions extending into a semiconductor substrate, with a substrate strip between opposite portions of the isolation regions having a first width. A source/drain region has a portion overlapping the substrate strip, wherein an upper portion of the source/drain region has a second width greater than the first width. The upper portion of the source/drain region has substantially vertical sidewalls. A source/drain silicide region has inner sidewalls contacting the vertical sidewalls of the source/drain region.
US09608113B2
A semiconductor device structure is provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a semiconductor substrate and a gate stack over the semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor device structure also includes a sealing structure over a sidewall of the gate stack, and a width ratio of the sealing structure to the gate stack is in a range from about 0.05 to about 0.7. The semiconductor device structure further includes an etch stop layer over the semiconductor substrate, the gate stack, and the sealing structure. The etch stop layer is in contact with the sealing structure.
US09608111B2
Some embodiments include transistor constructions having a first insulative structure lining a recess within a base. A first conductive structure lines an interior of the first insulative structure, and a ferroelectric structure lines an interior of the first conductive structure. A second conductive structure is within a lower region of the ferroelectric structure, and the second conductive structure has an uppermost surface beneath an uppermost surface of the first conductive structure. A second insulative structure is over the second conductive structure and within the ferroelectric structure. A pair of source/drain regions are adjacent an upper region of the first insulative structure and are on opposing sides of the first insulative structure from one another.
US09608097B2
The present invention provides a lateral IGBT transistor comprising a bipolar transistor and an IGFET. The lateral IGBT comprises a low resistive connection between the drain of the IGFET and the base of the bipolar transistor, and an isolating layer arranged between the IGFET and the bipolar transistor. The novel structure provides a device which is immune to latch and gives high gain and reliability. The structure can be realized with standard CMOS technology available at foundries.
US09608085B2
A predisposed high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) is disclosed. The predisposed HEMT includes a buffer layer, a HEMT channel layer on the buffer layer, a first HEMT barrier layer over the HEMT channel layer, and a HEMT cap layer on the first HEMT barrier layer. The HEMT cap layer has a drain region, a source region, and a gate region. Further, the HEMT cap layer has a continuous surface on the drain region, the source region, and the gate region. When no external voltage is applied between the source region and the gate region, the gate region either depletes carriers from the HEMT channel layer or provides carriers to the HEMT channel layer, thereby selecting a predisposed state of the predisposed HEMT.
US09608082B2
A switching device includes an opening disposed in a substrate. A source is disposed adjacent the opening and has a contact surface parallel to sidewalls of the opening. A drain is disposed adjacent the opening and has a contact surface parallel to the sidewalls of the opening. A moveable gate stack includes a channel and a gate. The moveable gate stack is disposed within the opening.
US09608078B2
A transistor device includes a semiconductor body, a spacer layer, and a field plate. The spacer layer is over at least a portion of a surface of the semiconductor body. The field plate is over at least a portion of the spacer layer, and includes a first current carrying layer, a refractory metal interposer layer over the first current carrying layer, and a second current carrying layer over the refractory metal interposer layer. By including the refractory metal interposer layer between the first current carrying layer and the second current carrying layer, the electromigration of metals in the field plate is significantly reduced. Since electromigration of metals in the field plate is a common cause of transistor device failures, reducing the electromigration of metals in the field plate improves the reliability and lifetime of the transistor device.
US09608067B2
A semiconductor structure includes a material stack located on a surface of a semiconductor substrate. The material stack includes, from bottom to top, a silicon germanium alloy portion that is substantially relaxed and defect-free and a semiconductor material pillar that is defect-free. A dielectric material structure surrounds sidewalls of the material stack and is present on exposed portions of the semiconductor substrate.
US09608061B2
A method for fabricating fin field-effect transistors includes providing a semiconductor substrate; and forming a plurality of fins on a surface of the semiconductor substrate. The method also includes forming dummy gates formed over side and top surfaces of the fins; forming a precursor material layer with a surface higher than top surfaces of the fins to cover the dummy gates and the semiconductor substrate; performing a thermal annealing process to convert the precursor material layer into a dielectric layer having a plurality of voids; and planarizing the dielectric layer to expose the top surfaces of the dummy gates. Further, the method also includes performing a post-treatment process using oxygen-contained de-ionized water on the planarized dielectric layer to eliminate the plurality of voids formed in the dielectric layer; removing the dummy gates to form trenches; and forming a high-K metal gate structure in each of the trenches.
US09608055B2
Semiconductor devices having germanium active layers with underlying diffusion barrier layers are described. For example, a semiconductor device includes a gate electrode stack disposed above a substrate. A germanium active layer is disposed above the substrate, underneath the gate electrode stack. A diffusion barrier layer is disposed above the substrate, below the germanium active layer. A junction leakage suppression layer is disposed above the substrate, below the diffusion barrier layer. Source and drain regions are disposed above the junction leakage suppression layer, on either side of the gate electrode stack.
US09608053B2
Disclosed herein is an electroluminescence display panel including a pixel circuit, a signal line, a scan line, a drive power supply line, a common power supply line, a power supply line drive circuit, a high-potential power supply line, and a low-potential power supply line.
US09608051B2
A display apparatus including: a display region provided with a plurality of pixel portions; wires installed to the respective pixel portions within the display region from an outside of the display region for transmitting a signal to drive the respective pixel portions; connection pads provided on the outside of the display region and serving as input portions to provide the wires with a signal while electrically conducting with the wires; switch elements provided on the outside of the display region in a middle of the wires; and a light shielding covering portion shielding the switch elements from light and formed to cover the connection pads while electrically conducting with the connection pads.
US09608050B2
An organic light emitting diode (OLED) display including: a substrate; a semiconductor layer disposed on the substrate and including a switching semiconductor layer and a driving semiconductor layer connected to the switching semiconductor layer; a first gate insulating layer disposed on the semiconductor layer; a switching gate electrode and a driving gate electrode disposed on the first gate insulating layer and respectively overlapping with the switching semiconductor layer and the driving semiconductor layer; a second gate insulating layer disposed on the switching gate electrode and the driving gate electrode; a driving voltage line configured to transmit a driving voltage and disposed on the second gate insulating layer; an interlayer insulating layer disposed on the driving voltage line and the second gate insulating layer; and a data line configured to transmit a data signal and disposed on the interlayer insulating layer.
US09608033B2
A solid-state image sensor includes a pixel area and a peripheral circuit area. The pixel area includes a first MOS, and the peripheral circuit area includes a second MOS. A method includes forming a gate of the first MOS and a gate of the second MOS, forming a first insulating film to cover the gates of the first and second MOSs, etching the first insulating film in the peripheral circuit area in a state that the pixel area is masked to form a side spacer on a side face of the gate of the second MOS, etching the first insulating film in the pixel area in a state that the peripheral circuit area is masked, and forming the second insulating film to cover the gates of the first and second MOSs and the side spacers.
US09608026B2
Methods of manufacturing an integrated circuit device including a through via structure are provided. The methods may include forming an isolation trench through a substrate to form an inner substrate, which is enclosed by the isolation trench and forming an insulating layer in the isolation trench and on a surface of the substrate. The methods may also include forming a hole, which is spaced apart from the isolation trench and passes through a portion of the insulating layer formed on the surface of the substrate and the inner substrate and forming a conductive layer in the hole and on the insulating layer formed on the surface of the substrate. The methods may be used to manufacture image sensors.
US09608020B2
An imaging element mounting substrate includes: an insulating base comprising insulating layers, the insulating base surface comprising an opening which is located at a center thereof; a connection electrode disposed at a lower surface of the insulating base around the opening; and light-transmission control layers between the insulating layers, and comprising inner edges located on an outside of the opening. An inner edge of one light-transmission control layer lies closer to the opening than an inner edge of another light-transmission control layer as seen in a transparent plan view, and the insulating base has, in an inner periphery of the opening of an insulating layer constituting a lower surface of the insulating base, an inclined portion which is inclined such that the opening becomes smaller in size from the lower surface as approaching an upper surface of the insulating base.
US09608012B2
A display panel is disclosed, comprising: a first substrate; a thin film transistor layer disposed on the first substrate; an insulating layer disposed on the thin film transistor layer; at least one pixel electrode disposed on the insulating layer and exposing an exposure region of the insulating layer; and an alignment layer disposed on the pixel electrode and the exposure region; wherein a surface roughness of the alignment layer disposed on the exposure region is larger than a surface roughness of the alignment layer disposed on the pixel electrode.
US09608008B2
Each pixel region of an active matrix substrate includes a thin-film transistor, an interlayer insulating layer that includes an organic insulating layer, a transparent connection layer formed on the interlayer insulating layer, an inorganic insulating layer formed on the transparent connection layer, and a pixel electrode formed on the inorganic insulating layer. The transparent connection layer contacts a drain electrode inside of a first contact hole formed in the interlayer insulating layer. The pixel electrode contacts the transparent connection layer inside of a second contact hole formed in the inorganic insulating layer. The first contact hole and the second contact hole do not overlap with one another when a substrate is viewed from a normal direction. Inside the first contact hole, a bottom surface and sidewalls of the first contact hole are covered by the transparent connection layer, the inorganic insulating layer, and the pixel electrode.
US09608005B2
To provide a semiconductor device with excellent charge retention characteristics, an OS transistor is used as a transistor whose gate is connected to a node for retaining charge. Charge is stored in a first capacitor, and data at the node for retaining charge is read based on whether the stored charge is transferred to a second capacitor. Since a Si transistor, in which leakage current through a gate insulating film occurs, is not used as a transistor connected to the node for retaining charge, charge retention characteristics of the node are improved. In addition, the semiconductor device operates in data reading without requiring transistor performance equivalent to that of a Si transistor.
US09608003B2
An integrated circuit product is disclosed including an SOI structure including a bulk semiconductor substrate, a buried insulation layer positioned on the bulk semiconductor substrate and a semiconductor layer positioned on the insulation layer, wherein, in a first region of the SOI structure, the semiconductor layer and the buried insulation layer are removed and, in a second region of the SOI structure, the semiconductor layer and the buried insulation layer are present above the bulk semiconductor substrate. The product further includes a semiconductor bulk device comprising a first gate structure positioned on the bulk semiconductor substrate in the first region and an SOI semiconductor device comprising a second gate structure positioned on the semiconductor layer in the second region, wherein the first and second gate structures have a final gate height substantially extending to a common height level above an upper surface of the bulk semiconductor substrate.
US09607999B2
A method of forming a semiconductor memory storage device that includes forming first and second doped regions of a first type in a semiconductor substrate and laterally spaced from one another, forming a gate dielectric extends over the semiconductor substrate between the first and second doped regions, forming a floating gate on the gate dielectric, and forming an ultraviolet (UV) light blocking material vertically disposed above the floating gate such that the floating gate remains electrically charged after the semiconductor memory storage device is exposed to UV light.
US09607997B1
A wide trench having a width W1 and narrow trenches having a width W2 that is less than W1 are formed in a dielectric layer, the wide trench extending deeper in outer regions than in a central region. A trench modification step changes the width of the wide trench and reduces a depth difference between the outer regions and the central region of the wide trench.
US09607996B2
A semiconductor device includes a memory transistor (10A) which is capable of being irreversibly changed from a semiconductor state where drain current Ids depends on gate voltage Vg to a resistor state where drain current Ids does not depend on gate voltage Vg. The memory transistor (10A) includes a gate electrode (3), a metal oxide layer (7), a gate insulating film (5), and source and drain electrodes. The drain electrode (9d) has a multilayer structure which includes a first drain metal layer (9d1) and a second drain metal layer (9d2), the first drain metal layer (9d1) being made of a first metal whose melting point is not less than 1200° C., the second drain metal layer (9d2) being made of a second metal whose melting point is lower than that of the first metal. Part P of the drain electrode 9d extends over both the metal oxide layer (7) and the gate electrode (3) when viewed in a direction normal to a surface of the substrate. The part (P) of the drain electrode (9d) includes the first drain metal layer (9d1) and does not include the second drain metal layer (9d2).
US09607991B2
To provide a semiconductor memory device which can be manufactured with high yield and which can achieve higher integration. A pair of memory cells adjacent to each other in the bit line direction is connected to a bit line through a common contact hole. The pair of memory cells adjacent to each other in the bit line direction shares an electrode connected to the bit line. An oxide semiconductor layer included in the memory cell is provided to overlap with a word line and a capacitor line. A transistor and a capacitor included in the memory cell are each provided to overlap with the bit line connected to the memory cell.
US09607984B2
In one embodiment, a common drain semiconductor device includes a substrate, having two transistors integrated therein. The substrate also includes a plurality of active regions on a major surface of the substrate. The active regions of each transistor may be interleaved.
US09607983B2
A semiconductor device is formed, the semiconductor device including: an SOI substrate; field insulating films that are formed on the SOI substrate and that separate a plurality of element formation regions; first and second HV pMOSs, and first and second LV pMOSs that are formed in the plurality of element formation regions; a first interlayer insulating film and a second interlayer insulating film formed on the SOI substrate; a mold resin formed on the second interlayer insulating film; and conductive films that are formed on the first interlayer insulating film and that are interposed between the plurality of element formation regions, and the field insulating films and mold resin.
US09607978B2
A double-diffused metal oxide semiconductor (DMOS) structure is configured as an open drain output driver having electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection and a reverse voltage blocking diode inherent in the structure and without requiring metal connections for the ESD and reverse voltage blocking diode protections.
US09607974B2
A method for fabricating a package structure is provided, which includes: providing a first carrier having a circuit layer thereon; forming a plurality of conductive posts on the circuit layer and disposing at least an electronic element on the first carrier; forming an encapsulant on the first carrier to encapsulate the conductive posts, the circuit layer and the electronic element; and removing the first carrier, thereby dispensing with the conventional hole opening process for forming the conductive posts and hence reducing the fabrication costs.
US09607964B2
Embodiments describe a semiconductor package that includes a substrate, a die bonded to the substrate, and a solder paste overmold layer formed over a top surface of the die. In an embodiment, the solder paste comprises a high-melting point metal, a solder matrix, intermetallic compounds and a polymer. The overmold layer has a high elastic modulus, a coefficient of thermal expansion similar to the substrate, and reduces the warpage of the package. In an embodiment, interconnects of a semiconductor package are formed with a no-slump solder paste that includes vents. Vents may be formed through a conductive network formed by the high-melting point metal, solder matrix and intermetallic compounds. In an embodiment, vents provide a path through the interconnect that allows for moisture outgassing. In an embodiment, a mold layer may be mechanically anchored to the interconnects by the vents, thereby providing improved mechanical continuity to the mold layer.
US09607960B1
A bonding structure comprising a contact pad, an anisotropic conductive film (ACF) and a contact structure is provided. The contact pad includes at least one recess, wherein a thickness of the contact pad is T, and a width of the at least one recess is B, The ACF is disposed on the contact pad and includes a plurality of conductive particles; each of the conductive particles is disposed in the at least one recess. A diameter of the conductive particles is A, and A is larger than B and T and satisfies B≦2(AT−T2)1/2. The contact structure is disposed on the ACF and electrically connected to the contact pad via the conductive particles. The disclosure also provides a flexible device including a substrate, a patterned insulating layer, at least one contact pad, ACF, and a contact structure.
US09607958B2
A semiconductor device has a semiconductor die with an encapsulant deposited over the semiconductor die. A first insulating layer having high tensile strength and elongation is formed over the semiconductor die and encapsulant. A first portion of the first insulating layer is removed by a first laser direct ablation to form a plurality of openings in the first insulating layer. The openings extend partially through the first insulating layer or into the encapsulant. A second portion of the first insulating layer is removed by a second laser direct ablation to form a plurality of trenches in the first insulating layer. A conductive layer is formed in the openings and trenches of the first insulating layer. A second insulating layer is formed over the conductive layer. A portion of the second insulating layer is removed by a third laser direct ablation. Bumps are formed over the conductive layer.
US09607954B2
Object is to prevent a coupling failure between a rewiring and a coupling member for coupling to outside. A passivation film and a first polyimide film are formed so as to cover a wiring layer. A first opening portion is formed in the first polyimide film. A rewiring is formed on the first polyimide film so as to be coupled to the wiring layer via the first opening portion. A second polyimide film that covers the rewiring and has a second opening portion communicated with the rewiring is formed. A palladium film is formed as a barrier film by sputtering on a portion of the surface of the rewiring at which the second opening portion exists. A solder ball is coupled to the palladium film.
US09607953B1
A semiconductor device package includes an isolation wall located between a first circuit and a second circuit on a substrate. The isolation wall is configured to reduce inductive coupling between the first and second circuits during operation of the semiconductor device. Encapsulation material covers the substrate, first and second circuits, and the isolation wall. The isolation wall has features, such as indentation, along its upper edge that facilitate a flow of the encapsulation material across the isolation wall during fabrication to largely eliminate interior defects and/or visual defects on the surface of the completed semiconductor device package. For a dual-path amplifier, such as a Doherty power amplifier, the isolation wall separates the carrier amplifier elements from the peaking amplifier elements included within the semiconductor device package.
US09607950B2
There is provided a package substrate including: a body unit including a plurality of base substrates and having a mounting region allowing at least one semiconductor device to be mounted thereon; and a plurality of magnetic field shielding units including a ferromagnetic material and provided within the body unit, wherein the plurality of magnetic field shielding units may be respectively disposed on the plurality of different base substrates such that a magnetic field shielding region defined by the plurality of magnetic field shielding units corresponds to the mounting region.
US09607949B2
A semiconductor device includes a first semiconductor unit including a plurality of first semiconductor chips, an organic resin provided between the first semiconductor chips, a wiring layer provided above the first semiconductor chips to electrically connect the first semiconductor chips to each other, and a plurality of connecting terminals provided on an upper portion of the wiring layer and a second semiconductor unit fixed to a wiring layer side of the first semiconductor unit, the second semiconductor unit fixed to a region sandwiched between the connecting terminals, the second semiconductor unit having a second semiconductor chip, the second semiconductor unit electrically connected to the first semiconductor unit.
US09607943B2
Back end of the line (BEOL) capacitors and methods of manufacture are provided. The method includes forming wiring lines on a substrate, with spacing between adjacent wiring lines. The method further includes forming an air gap within spacing between the adjacent wiring lines by deposition of a capping material. The method further includes opening the air gap between selected adjacent wiring lines. The method further includes depositing conductive material within the opened air gap.
US09607939B2
A semiconductor package is provided, including a semiconductor substrate having a plurality of conductive vias, a buffer layer formed on the semiconductor substrate, a plurality of conductive pads formed on end surfaces of the conductive vias and covering the buffer layer. During a reflow process, the buffer layer greatly reduces the thermal stress, thereby eliminating the occurance of cracking at the interface of conductive pads. A method of fabricating such a semiconductor package is also provided.
US09607935B2
Various semiconductor chip packages with undermounted passive devices and methods of making the same are disclosed. In one aspect, a method of manufacturing is provided that includes coupling a semiconductor chip to a first side of a carrier substrate where the carrier substrate includes a second side opposite the first side. At least one passive device is coupled to the second side of the carrier substrate. The at least one passive device includes at least one first terminal electrically coupled to the semiconductor chip and at least one second terminal adapted to couple to a printed circuit board.
US09607932B2
A semiconductor device is disclosed. The semiconductor device has a semiconductor chip, an island having an upper surface to which the semiconductor chip is bonded, a lead disposed around the island, a bonding wire extended between the surface of the semiconductor chip and the upper surface of the lead, and a resin package sealing the semiconductor chip, the island, the lead, and the bonding wire, while the lower surface of the island and the lower surface of the lead are exposed on the rear surface of the resin package, and the lead is provided with a recess concaved from the lower surface side and opened on a side surface thereof.
US09607929B2
A method including forming a through-substrate via through a thickness of a substrate, the thickness of the substrate is measured from a front side of the substrate to a back side of the substrate, removing a first portion of the substrate to form an opening in the back side of the substrate such that a second portion of the substrate remains in direct contact surrounding a vertical sidewall of the through-substrate via, and filling the opening with an alternate material having a lower modulus of elasticity than the substrate.
US09607910B2
A method of controlling polishing includes polishing a region of a substrate at a first polishing rate, measuring a sequence of characterizing values for the region of the substrate during polishing with an in-situ monitoring system, determining a polishing rate adjustment for each of a plurality of adjustment times prior to a polishing endpoint time, and adjusting a polishing parameter to polish the substrate at a second polishing rate. The time period is greater than a period between the adjustment times and the projected time is before the polishing endpoint time. The second polishing rate is the first polishing rate as adjusted by the polishing rate adjustment.
US09607898B1
Forming a semiconductor layer on a semiconductor substrate, a top surface of the semiconductor layer above a fin in a second region is higher than a top surface of the semiconductor layer in a first region, etching the semiconductor layer and a mask in the first region to expose a top surface of the semiconductor substrate to form a first stack, and etching the semiconductor layer and the mask in the second region to expose a top surface of the fin to form a second stack, epitaxially growing a semiconductor material on a top surface of the fin not covered by the second stack, recessing the first and second stack to expose a top surface of the semiconductor layer, a portion of the mask remains above the semiconductor layer in the first stack, top surfaces of each of the first and second stacks each are substantially flush with one another.
US09607896B2
A method of preparing semiconductor dies from a semiconductor wafer having a plurality of fabrication regions separated by dicing lines on the top side of the wafer, and an adhesive coating on the back side of the wafer, comprises applying a repellent material to the fabrication regions and dicing lines where the adhesive coating is not intended to be printed; applying the adhesive coating to the back side of the wafer; removing the repellent material; and separating the wafer along the dicing lines into individual dies.
US09607892B2
A method for fabricating semiconductor device comprising: providing a substrate having a gate structure thereon and a first interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer surrounding the gate structure; removing part of the gate structure; forming a first mask layer on the first ILD layer and the gate structure; removing the first mask layer on the first ILD layer and part of the first mask layer on the gate structure for forming a first hard mask on the gate structure; forming a second mask layer on the first ILD layer, the first hard mask, and the gate structure; and planarizing the second mask layer to form a second hard mask on the gate structure, in which the top surfaces of the first hard mask, the second hard mask, and the first ILD layer are coplanar.
US09607888B2
Methods for integration of atomic layer deposition (ALD) of barrier layers and chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of Ru liners for Cu filling of narrow recessed features for semiconductor devices are disclosed in several embodiments. According to one embodiment, the method includes providing a substrate containing a recessed feature, depositing a conformal barrier layer by ALD in the recessed feature, where the barrier layer contains TaN or TaAlN, depositing a conformal Ru liner by CVD on the barrier layer, and filling the recessed feature with Cu metal.
US09607885B2
Various embodiments provide semiconductor devices and fabrication methods. In an exemplary method, a dielectric layer can be formed on a semiconductor substrate. A plurality of pillar structures having a matrix arrangement can be formed on the dielectric layer. A plurality of sidewall spacers can be formed on the dielectric layer. Each sidewall spacer can be formed on a sidewall surface of one of the plurality of pillar structures. A distance between adjacent pillar structures in a same row or in a same column can be less than or equal to a double of a thickness of the each sidewall spacer on the sidewall surface. The plurality of pillar structures can be removed. The dielectric layer can be etched using the plurality of sidewall spacers as an etch mask to form a plurality of trenches or through holes in the dielectric layer.
US09607884B2
Manufacturing stability of a semiconductor device is improved. A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes the steps of: forming an etching stopper film over a first interlayer insulating film; forming an inorganic insulating film over the etching stopper film; forming a resist film over the inorganic insulating film; selectively etching the etching stopper film and the inorganic insulating film by using the resist film as a mask to form a first opening in the etching stopper film and to form a second opening in the inorganic insulating film; removing the resist film by O2 plasma ashing; forming a second interlayer insulating film over the inorganic insulating film; and etching the second interlayer insulating film to form a wiring groove that is coupled to the second opening, and etching a portion located under the first opening of the first interlayer insulating film to form a via hole.
US09607879B2
A process for fabrication of a structure includes assembling at least two substrates. At least one of these two substrates is intended to be used in electronics, optics, optoelectronics and/or photovoltaics. The structure includes at least two separation interfaces extending parallel to the main faces of the structure. The assembling process is carried out with a view to a separation of the structure along one interface selected from the interfaces, the separation being carried out by inserting a blade between the substrates and applying a parting force, via the blade. The interface chosen for the separation is formed so that it is more sensitive than the other interface(s) to stress corrosion. Separation occurs due to the combined action of the parting force and of a fluid capable of breaking siloxane (Si—O—Si) bonds present at the interface. A structure obtained by such a process may be separated along the chosen interface.
US09607877B2
The present invention provides a substrate structure, a semiconductor device, and a manufacturing method thereof. The substrate structure comprises: a semiconductor substrate; and a first isolation region, wherein the first isolation region comprises: a first trench extending through the semiconductor substrate; and a first dielectric layer filling the first trench. Due to the isolation region extending through the substrate, it is possible to make device structures on both surfaces of the substrate, so as to increase the utilization of the substrate and the integration degree of the devices.
US09607874B2
A plasma processing apparatus includes a stage in a processing chamber where plasma is formed, a wafer to be processed, and an electrode arranged at an upper part of the stage and supplied with power to electrostatically attract and hold the wafer on the stage, and consecutively processing a plurality of wafers one by one. There are plural processing steps of conducting processing using the plasma under different conditions and there are plural periods when formation of plasma is stopped between the processing steps. An inner wall of the processing chamber is coated before starting the processing of any wafer, and voltage supplied to the electrode is changed according to a balance of respective polarities of particles floating and charged in the processing chamber in each period when formation of plasma is stopped.
US09607864B2
The present disclosure is directed to fluid filtering systems and methods for use during semiconductor processing. One or more embodiments are directed to fluid filtering systems and methods for filtering ions and particles from a fluid as the fluid is being provided to a semiconductor wafer processing tool, such as to a semiconductor wafer cleaning tool.
US09607863B1
Integrated circuit packages with cavity are disclosed. A disclosed integrated circuit package includes a first die. A second die may be coupled to the first die by attaching the first die to a top surface of the second die. A blocking element such as a barrier structure may be formed that surrounds the second die. A cavity may be formed between the blocking element and the first die that encloses the second die. The barrier structure may help prevent underfill material from entering the cavity during underfill deposition processes. A heat spreading lid may cover the first die, second die and package substrate.
US09607856B2
Methods are described herein for selectively etching titanium nitride relative to dielectric films, which may include, for example, alternative metals and metal oxides lacking in titanium and/or silicon-containing films (e.g. silicon oxide, silicon carbon nitride and low-K dielectric films). The methods include a remote plasma etch formed from a chlorine-containing precursor. Plasma effluents from the remote plasma are flowed into a substrate processing region where the plasma effluents react with the titanium nitride. The plasma effluents react with exposed surfaces and selectively remove titanium nitride while very slowly removing the other exposed materials. The substrate processing region may also contain a plasma to facilitate breaking through any titanium oxide layer present on the titanium nitride. The plasma in the substrate processing region may be gently biased relative to the substrate to enhance removal rate of the titanium oxide layer.
US09607852B2
Target pattern layouts that include lower and upper target patterns are designed. Each lower target pattern is combined with a upper target pattern that at least partially overlaps a top surface thereof to form combination structures. The combination structures are divided into first and second combination structures. A first target pattern is formed from the lower target pattern in the first combination structure and a third target pattern is formed from the upper target pattern in the first combination structure. The first and third target patterns are formed in first and third lithography processes, respectively. A second target pattern is formed from the lower target pattern in the second combination structure and a fourth target pattern is formed from the upper target pattern in the second combination structure. The second and fourth target patterns are formed in second and fourth lithography processes, respectively.
US09607849B2
A pattern-forming method includes providing a resist underlayer film on a substrate using a resist underlayer film-forming composition. The resist underlayer film-forming composition includes a first polymer having a glass transition temperature of 0 to 180° C. A silicon-based oxide film is provided on a surface of the resist underlayer film. A resist pattern is provided on a surface of the silicon-based oxide film using a resist composition. The silicon-based oxide film and the resist underlayer film are sequentially dry-etched using the resist pattern as a mask. The substrate is dry-etched using the dry-etched resist underlayer film as a mask.
US09607848B2
A method for etching features with different aspect ratios in an etch layer is provided. A plurality of cycles is provided wherein each cycle comprises a pre-etch transient conditioning of the etch layer, which provides a transient condition of the etch layer, wherein the transient condition has a duration and etching the etch layer for a duration, wherein the duration of the etching with respect to the duration of the transient condition is controlled to control etch aspect ratio dependence.
US09607847B1
A cavity is formed in a semiconductor substrate wherein the width of the cavity is greater than the depth of the cavity and wherein the depth of the cavity is non uniform across the width of the cavity. The cavity may be formed under an electronic device in the semiconductor substrate. The cavity is formed in the substrate by performing a first cavity etch followed by repeated cycles of polymer deposition, cavity etch, and polymer removal.
US09607843B2
A method of patterning a silicon containing ARC (anti-reflective coating) layer underlying a patterned layer is described that includes establishing a flow of a process gas to a plasma processing system, selecting a process condition that increases an etch selectivity of the silicon containing ARC layer relative to the patterned layer, igniting plasma from the process gas using a plasma source in accordance with the process condition, and exposing the substrate to the plasma to extend the feature pattern of the patterned layer into the silicon containing ARC layer. The composition of the process gas and the flow rate(s) of the gaseous constituents in the process gas are selected to adjust the carbon-fluorine content.
